Journal of Environmental Biology

Influence of some plant growth regulators on fruit set, yield and quality of sugar apple (Annona squamosa L.) var. Arka Neelachal Vikram

D. Samant*, K. Kishore, G.C. Acharya, S. Singh and S. Behera     

ICAR-IIHR-Central Horticultural Experiment Station, Bhubaneswar- 751 019, India

Received: 13 June 2024                   Revised: 26 August 2024                   Accepted: 11 November 2024

*Corresponding Author Email : horti.deepa@gmail.com                             *ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0876-4921

Abstract

Aim: To evaluate the efficacy of foliar application of homobrassinolide (HBL), gibberellic acid (GA₃), and naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) for improving fruit set, yield, and quality in sugar apple.

Methodology: The experiment was laid out in a randomized block design with 10 treatments, comprised of NAA (50, 100, and 150 ppm), HBL (0.1, 0.3, and 0.5 ppm), GA₃ (100, 150, and 200 ppm), and water as a control. Treatments were foliar sprayed thrice during major flowering period at monthly interval, i.e., April, May, and June. Observations were recorded on fruiting, yield, and fruit quality parameters.

Results: Foliar application of GA3 at 150-200 ppm was found effective for enhancing the fruit set, fruit retention, and yield in sugar apple, when applied during May and June. Application of GA₃ @ 200 ppm not only recorded the maximum fruit set and retention in May (5.03 and 69.18 %) and June flowering (9.38 and 75.35 %), but also scored the maximum values for number of fruits, fruit weight, and yield in their corresponding month of harvesting, i.e., October (50.60 fruits per tree, 235.70 g per fruit, and 11.88 kg per tree) and November (36.79 fruits per tree, 231.88 g per fruit, and 8.40 kg per tree). With respect to fruit quality, GA₃ (100-200 ppm) and NAA (100-150 ppm) registered a significant improvement in various fruit quality parameters, however, GA₃ treatments excelled in the performance.  Fruits harvested from 200 ppm GA3 had the best quality (pulp: 72.07 %, TSS: 23.90 ºB, TSS/acid ratio: 59.81, total sugar: 30.37 %, reducing sugar: 19.57 %, non-reducing sugar: 10.80 %, vitamin C: 52.34 mg 100 g⁻¹ pulp, total flavonoid: 44.21 mg QE 100 g⁻¹ FW, ferric reducing antioxidant power: 40.73 mM Fe_(II) 100 g⁻¹ FW and scavenging activity: 74.65 %), followed by 150 ppm GA₃.

Interpretation: In sugar apple, foliar application of GA₃ (150-200 ppm) twice during May and June flowering is effective for improving fruit set and enhancing yield and quality of the produce.

Key words: Fruit set, Fruit quality, Gibberellic acid, Plant growth regulators, Sugar apple

Copyright © 2025 Triveni Enterprises. All rights reserved. No part of the Journal can be reproduced in any form without prior permission. Responsibility regarding the authenticity of the data, and the acceptability of the conclusions enforced or derived, rest completely with the author(s).