Effect of plant growth regulators and micronutrients on flower and fruit retention in mango (Mangifera indica. L) CV. Kesar

Abstract

The experiment was carried out at Central Nursery Farm, VNMKV, Parbhani on 10 years old mango plants to assess the effect of plant growth regulators and micronutrients on flower retention and fruit retention in mango (Mangifera indica. L) Cv. Kesar. The experimental results indicated that the lowest flower drop (89.13%) and the highest flower retention (10.87%) was recorded in the treatment T₇ which was 7.57 per cent decreased and 62.04 per cent increased as compared to control. It was found that fruit retention at pea stage per panicle (47.21%), fruit retention at marble stage per panicle (11.08%) and fruit retention at maturity stage per panicle (4.02%) were found maximum in treatment T₁₂ which was, respectively 11.06 per cent, 42.06 per cent and 66.92 per cent increased over control. Among the thirteen treatments, highest number of fruits per tree (283.33) and yield (31.43 kg/tree) were observed in treatment T₁₁ which was 38.24 per cent and 24.06 per cent increased over control. Among the all the treatments T₁₂ i.e. NAA (75 ppm) + ZnSO₄ (0.8%) + FeSO₄ (0.8%) sprayed at flowering and pea stage showed the best fruit retention and yield. Foliar spray of PGR’s and micronutrients at flowering and pea stage found to be better for fruit retention as well as yield in mango.