Studies on effect of plant growth regulators on fruit drop, development, quality and yield of ber (Zizyphus mauritiana Lamk.) cv. Banarasi Karaka

Ber is indigenous and common fruit of India. It can be cultivated under wide range of agro climatic conditions and it is widely utilized as fresh, dried and preserved. An experiment was conducted in orchard of Department of Horticulture, Janta P.G. College, Bakewar, Etawah during the years 2007–08. The experiment was laid out in a RBD having ten treatments including control with tree replications. Three levels of each plant growth regulators (PGRs) viz., NAA (15, 20 and 25 ppm), 2, 4, 5-T (15, 20 and 25 ppm) and GA₃ (20, 30 and 40 ppm) was evaluated. Two sprays were applied, i.e., first on 20^th October and second on 20^th November, 2008. Among the treatments GA₃ (40 ppm) decreased the fruit drop (74.25%) it increased fruit length (5.31 cm) and width (2.98 cm) as compared to control. This treatment significantly increased weight of fruit (20.42 g) and pulp weight (19.39 g) as compared to control. The maximum fruit yield (509.15 g per branch) was also recorded in this treatment. The treatment GA₃ (30 ppm) reduced the stone weight (0.90 g), stone weight percentage (4.57) and acidity (0.234%) as compared to control (1.22 g, 8.86% and 0.288%, respectively), whereas this treatment increase the maximum pulp weight percentage (95.43%). None of the treatment could effect specific gravity of fruits. Maximum Brix-Acid ratio (70.39), vitamin ‘C’ (109.33 mg/100 g) and reducing sugar (4.53%) were recorded in 2, 4, 5-T (25 ppm) treated fruits as compared to control. The treatment GA₃ (20 ppm) showed highest TSS (16.89° Brix) and total sugar (12.51%) as compared to control.