Effect of Ethrel® on Flowering, Sex-Expression and Yield in Cashew

Abstract

A field trial was conducted at Regional Fruit Research Station, Vengurle, Dist. Sindhudurg, (Maharashtra) to assess the efficacy of Ethrel^® in relation to flowering behavior and yield enhancement in cashew on seven year old Cashew trees of Vengurle -7 variety during 2008-09. Three sprays of Ethrel^® @ 100 ppm, 200 ppm and 400 ppm along with water spray were given before flushing, after flushing and during fruit-set. Control consisted of no. spray. Among treatments, Ethrel^® @ 100 ppm significantly increased number of flowering panicles m^-2 (12.0), number of perfect flowers per panicle (52.8), fruit-set m^-2 (28.8), number of nuts per panicle (2.9) and yield tree^-1 ( 1.51 kg tree^-1) than control and water spray. Thus, lower concentration of Ethrel^® had a beneficial effect on cashew.