Effect of foliar application of PGR and different potassium forms on sex expression, fruit setting, yield and fruit quality in litchi 'Mandraji'

M. Prasad, S. Sahay, V.B. Patel, R. Kumar, A. Raj, S. Sengupta, M. Kundu
Effect of plant growth regulators and different forms of potassium on early flowering, sex expression, fruit setting, yield and quality was studied in litchi 'Mandraji'. Plant growth regulators, namely Ethrel at 400 ppm, and different forms of potassium, namely KNO3 (1%), K2HPO4 (1%), KH2PO4 (1%), were sprayed in the month of October, November, and December 2014. Results showed that spraying litchi trees three times with PGR and different forms of potassium was very effective in inducing early flowering. In addition, it also improved fruit retention, increased yield plant-1, fruits weight (kg tree-1), pulp weight and enhanced total soluble solids. Further, it also reduced fruit acidity content, compared to control. The results showed that different chemicals had profound effect on the early flowering and fruiting in litchi. About 5.33 days of advancement in flowering with maximum flowering intensity (73.33%) was observed in the treatment consisting of foliar spray of Ethrel at 400 ppm. However, highest sex ratio (0.96), maximum fruits retention per panicle (22.00) with highest yield (98.66 kg tree-1), maximum fruit weight (21.92 g) and TSS (19.97 °B), and harvest advancement (6.67 days) was observed in the treatment of K2HPO4 (1%) + KNO3 (1%).
Prasad, M., Sahay, S., Patel, V.B., Kumar, R., Raj, A., Sengupta, S. and Kundu, M. (2018). Effect of foliar application of PGR and different potassium forms on sex expression, fruit setting, yield and fruit quality in litchi 'Mandraji'. Acta Hortic. 1211, 1-6
DOI: 10.17660/ActaHortic.2018.1211.1
https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2018.1211.1
Ethrel, sex ratio, KNO3, K2HPO4, KH2PO4
English

Acta Horticulturae