EFFECT OF PLANT BIO-REGULATORS AND NUTRIENTS ON FRUIT CRACKING AND QUALITY IN POMEGRANATE (PUNICA GRANATUM L.) 'G-137' IN HIMACHAL PRADESH

An experiment was carried out to study the effect of foliar applied bio-regulators like NAA, GA3, CPPU and nutrients like boron and calcium, in mid-May and mid-June on yield, fruit cracking and quality in pomegranate cultivar ‘G-137’. The extent of fruit cracking was reduced significantly with the application of boron at 0.2% and CPPU at 10 ppm. Increased fruit size, fruit weight and juice contents were noticed with the treatment of CPPU at 5 ppm. However, total soluble solids, sugar contents, titratable acidity, TSS:acid ratio were significantly increased following the applications of GA₃ at 50 ppm and NAA at 20 ppm. CPPU applied at 5 ppm and GA₃ at 50 ppm caused a significant reduction in russet formation on fruits.