Effect of foliar application of zinc and boron on fruit yield and quality of winter season guava (Psidium guajava) cv. Pant Prabhat

Abstract

To investigate the feasibility of foliar application of zinc and boron on fruit yield and quality of winter season guava, an experiment was carried out in cv. Pant Prabhat during 2006-07. Foliar application of zinc and boron (1%) had significant effect on fruit set and fruit retention (72.55%) and also showed least fruit drop (27.45%) with the same dose during both the years. The highest dose of zinc and boron proved more effective in increasing the fruit length (6.39 cm), diameter (6.53 cm), weight (148.75 g) and volume (117.75 cm3) of fruits. Combination of zinc and boron resulted in higher fruit yield over control producing maximum yield (135.10 kg/tree) with the application of zinc sulphate and boric acid both at the rate of 1% each. The best quality of fruits in terms of T. S. S. (12.99°B), pectin content (1.85%), total sugar (9.87%), reducing (5.93%) and non-reducing (3.94%) sugars and ascorbic acid (291.29 mg/100 g pulp) was also recorded with highest doses of zinc and boron in combinations. Boron and zinc individually and in combinations reduced the total titrable acidity of fruits. Application of zinc and boron gave better sugar:acid and TSS:acid ratio of guava fruits.