Effect of Foliar Application of Growth Regulators and Micronutrients on Fruit Yield and Quality of Mango (Mangifera indica Linnaeus) cv. Mallika in Paklihawa, Rupandehi, Nepal

The research experiment entitled "Effect of foliar application of growth regulators and micronutrients on fruit yield and quality of mango (Mangifera indica Linnaeus) cv. Mallika" was conducted at the Horticulture Orchard Institute of Agriculture and Animal Science (IAAS), Paklihawa, Rupandehi during March to July 2023. The experimental design was laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications and seven treatments. The different treatments used were T₁ (NAA 20 mgl^-1 + ZnSO₄ 0.5%), T₂ (NAA 20 mgl^-1 + Borax 0.2%), T₃ (NAA 40 mgl^-1 + ZnSO₄ 0.5%), T₄ (NAA 40 mgl^-1 + Borax 0.2%), T₅ (GA3 25 mgl^-1 + ZnSO₄ 0.5%), T₆ (GA3 25 mgl^-1 + Borax 0.2%), T₇ (Control – water spray). The foliar application of growth regulators and micronutrients were done at pea and fruit development stage of mango. The maximum fruit retention (9.81 %) and minimum fruit drop (90.18%) was observed on of NAA 20 mgl^-1 + ZnSO₄ 0.5%. The maximum average fruit weight (282.18 g), average stone weight (34 g), average peel weight (39.67 g), average pulp weight (208.51 g) and TSS (11.4° Brix) were observed on NAA @ 20 mgl^-1 + ZnSO₄ @ 0.5% while maximum fruit yield per tree (9.36 kg per tree) was obtained in GA @ 25 mgl^-1 + Borax @ 0.2%. The aforementioned micronutrient and growth regulator combinations were also linked to fruiting characteristics and increased fruit production.

• A combination of NAA @ 20 mgl^-1 and ZnSO₄ @ 0.5% significantly reduces the fruit drop in mango and increase the quality.