Effect of GA3 on Fruit Yield and Quality of Date Palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.)

Abstract

The present investigation aimed to determine the effect of GA3 on fruit yield and quality in different date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) cv. Barhee, Halawy, Khadrawy and Zahidi in carried out at Date palm Research Centre, Swami Keshwanand Rajasthan Agricultural University, Bikaner during 2015. The experiment consisted of four date palm cv. Barhee, Halawy, Khadrawy and Zahidi and five level of GA3 concentration (control, 50 ppm, 100 ppm, 150 ppm and 200 ppm), arranged in split plot design with three replications. GA3 (control, 50, 100, 150 and 200 ppm) applications were sprayed on fruits of Barhee, Halawy, Khadrawy and Zahidi cvs. At late kimri stage. The results showed that GA3 treatments significantly increased physical properties (fruit weight, fruit length, fruit diameter, fruit volume and pulp:stone ratio) and highest fruit weight, fruit length, fruit diameter, fruit volume and pulp:stone ratio has been observed @ 200 ppm GA3. However, the high fruit quality characters viz. total soluble solid, ascorbic acid, total, reducing and non reducing sugars was recorded by the application of Gibberellic acid (GA3) at 150 ppm concentration. Results of this work suggest that 150 ppm GA3 could be used to increase the yield and improve fruit quality of Barhee, Halawy, Khadrawy and Zahidi cultivars.