Effects of foliar application of gibberellic acid, boric acid and sucrose on noni (M. citrifolia L.) fruit growth and quality

Abstract

Noni juice processing industry depends explicitly on the quality of noni fruits and its juice together with increased production of fruits. This study evaluated the effects of chemical treatments on noni's fruiting capacity, fruit yield and the fruit antioxidant properties. Noni plants in fruiting stage were foliar fed with boric acid (BA) at a concentration of 100 ppm or 200 ppm, gibberellic acid (GA3) at 20 ppm or 40 ppm and sucrose solution at 5 or 20% and water (control). Changes in fruiting numbers, fruit growth rates, fruit yield, total soluble solids (TSS), fruit antioxidant capacity and total phenolic content of fruits were determined after the foliar treatments. Fruiting, fruit growth rate and yield were significantly increased in BA, GA3 and sucrose treated plants when compared to the control treatment. Fruit TSS, antioxidant capacity and total phenol content were not affected. Sucrose 20% and BA treatments (100 ppm and 200 ppm) produced the highest fruit yields.