Effect of Plant Growth Regulators and Micronutrients on Reproductive Attributes of Acid Lime (Citrus aurantifolia Swingle) in Hasta bahar Cropping Season

Abstract

Plant growth regulators and micronutrients at various combinations [GA₃ 50ppm + Cycocel 1000ppm + KNO₃0.2% + Zn 0.3% + Boron 0.1%; GA₃ 50ppm + Cycocel 2000ppm + KNO₃ 0.2% + Zn 0.3% + Boron 0.1%; GA₃ 50ppm + Paclobutrazol 2.5g a.i./tree (soil application) + KNO₃ 0.2% + Zn 0.3% Boron 0.1%; GA₃50ppm + Paclobutrazol 3.5g a.i./tree (soil application) + KNO₃ 0.2% + Zn 0.3% + Boron 0.1%; GA₃ 50ppm + Paclobutrazol 1000ppm (foliar application) + KNO₃ 0.2% + Zn 0.3% + Boron 0.1%; and, GA₃ 50ppm + Paclobutrazol 2000ppm + KNO₃ 0.2% + Zn 0.3% + Boron 0.1%] were sprayed before flower emergence in acid lime. Minimum days taken to emergence of flower bud (39.57), duration of flowering (24.07), days to 50% fruit set (6.54) and days taken to fruit maturity (145.90) were observed with application of GA₃ 50ppm + Paclobutrazol 3.5g a.i./tree (soil application) + KNO₃ 0.2% + Zn 0.3% + Boron 0.1% (T₅), whereas, fruit drop (5.92%) was minimum with GA₃ 50ppm + Cycocel 2000ppm + KNO₃ 0.2% + Zn 0.3% + Boron 0.1% (T₃). Treatment T₃ also increased the number of flowers per meter length of shoot (49.65) as well as fruit yield (8.90).