Foliar Application of Limewash Improves Vegetative and Reproductive Growth and Fruit Quality of Bell Pepper under Deficit Irrigation

Abstract

A good quality fruit fetches a high market value. Citrus canker disease badly affects quality of citrus fruits including grapefruit. The present study was conducted to find out suitable chemicals, alone or incombination, for the control of citrus canker. The experiment was conducted on 15-year-old disease-affected grapefruit cv. Shamber plants in the orchard of Horticultural Research Station, Sahiwal to control the disease for better quality fruit production. Therefore, four sprays of Aliette (300 g 100 L-1 of water), Bordeaux mixture (1:1:100), Flare (100 g 100 L-1 of water) or Bordeaux mixture + Flare were applied; two in the month of March and other two in the month of August with fifteen days interval along with control (no chemical). Combined application of Bordeaux mixture and Flare reduced the attack of citrus canker on leaves and fruits. Comparatively lower values of affected leaves (1.27%), lesions per leaf (0.40), affected fruits (0.25%) and lesions per fruit (0.22) were observed in the treatment in which a combination of Bordeaux mixture and Flare was sprayed on the plants. The disease percentage was high on leaves and fruits of unsprayed (control) plants, while other thee treatment were in the middle in their efficacy to control the disease.