EFFECT OF ETHYLENE INHIBITING CHEMICALS ON YIELD AND QUALITY OF POMEGRANATE

An experiment was carried out to study the effect of ethylene inhibiting chemicals on yield and quality of pomegranate. Application of various ethylene inhibiting chemicals proved to be superior to reduce the ethylene levels in leaves of pomegranate. Spraying of cobalt chloride 2.5 ppm recorded significantly lower levels of ethylene in leaves of pomegranate. Numbers of fruits per tree, yield per tree and average fruit weight were recorded highest in plants sprayed with cobalt chloride 2.5 ppm in pomegranate. KNO₃ as an inhibitor recorded moderate results. Highest total soluble solids were recorded with cobalt chloride 2.5 ppm and KNO₃ 500 ppm in pomegranate. Application of KNO₃ as foliar spray recorded the highest percentage of titratable acidity in pomegranate. Foliar application of ethylene inhibitors was most effective over soil application for all the characters.