EFFECT OF DIFFERENT CHEMICALS ON FRUIT CRACKING IN POMEGRANATE UNDER KAREWA CONDITION OF KASHMIR VALLEY

Abstract

The present research study was accomplished on five varieties of pomegranate (Dholka, Bedana, Kandhari, Jyoti and G-137) during 2008-09 and 2009-10 to investigate the effect of nutrients and growth regulator on fruit cracking. Treatments comprises of calcium sulphate (2000, 3000, 4000 ppm), GA3 (40, 80, 120 ppm), borax (25, 50, 75 ppm) and control (water) were applied as foliar application on 15th May (fruit set) and 15th June (fruit active development stage). The minimum fruit cracking was observed in CaSO4 3000 ppm followed by CaSO4 2000 ppm, GA3 40 ppm and borax 50 ppm as compared to control in both seasons. Among selected varieties, minimum fruit cracking was recorded in Jyoti followed by G-137 and maximum in Kandhari. There were significant differences noticed in treatment varietal interaction means and minimum fruit cracking was recorded with the treatment of CaSO4 2000 ppm in Jyoti, Dholka and Kandhari however in Bedana and G-137 was recorded with CaSO4 3000 ppm as compared to control. Fruit yield per tree was recorded to be highest in GA3 80 ppm followed borax 75 ppm, borax 50 ppm, borax 25 ppm as compared to control, regardless of the varieties. In addition to that correlation among the fruit morphological parameter and fruit cracking also estimated in Dholka variety and found that fruit cracking was positively associated with fruit diameter, fruit L/D ratio, fruit weight, fruit volume, rind weight and grain moisture where as negetively with rind thickness, fruit firmness index and rind moisture.