EFFECT OF INDOLE ACETIC ACID (IAA) ON FRUIT DROP AND FRUIT QUALITY OF DATE PALM CULTIVARS

Abstract

Effect of Indole-3-Acetic Acid (IAA) on fruit drop and fruit quality of date palm cultivars was assessed during 2011 at Agriculture Research Institute, Rata Kulachi D.I.Khan, Pakistan. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Complete Block (RCB) Design with two factors factorial arrangement and replicated three times. The concentrations of Indole Acetic Acid (IAA) were used as 50, 100, 150 and 200 ppm at Hababuke stage (immature green stage) and the cultivars used were Dhakki and Gulistan. The application of IAA significantly influenced the growth, yield components and reduced the fruit drop of date palm cultivars. Among cultivars, Dhakki cultivar showed more fruit length (4.97 cm), fruit diameter (3.03 cm), fruit weight (30.8 g) and pulp weight (29.16 g) when treated with 150 ppm Indole Acetic Acid, while the lower percent fruit drop (23.00%) and higher bunch weight (21.27 kg) was recorded in cultivar Gulistan with application of 150 ppm Indole Acetic Acid concentration. Cultivars effect was also significant for percent fruit drop, fruit length, fruit diameter, fruit weight, pulp weight and bunch weight. In case of interactions only length and pulp weight was found significant among all other parameter in both cultivars. Results revealed that application of Indole Acetic Acid as foliar spray @ 150 ppm showed good result to minimize the percent fruit drop of date palm cultivars and also affects other desirable parameters significantly. Therefore, the concentration of Indole Acetic Acid (IAA) @ 150 ppm should be applied as foliar spray at kimri stage (unripe stage) to minimize the fruit drop and to improve the fruit quality attributes of date palm cultivars.