Effect of micronutrients and plant growth regulators on yield and fruit quality of litchi (Litchi chinensis Sonn.) cv. Muzaffarpur under foot hills of Arunachal Pradesh

The present investigation was carried out during 2016 at Fruit Research Farm, Department of Fruit Science, College of Horticulture and Forestry, Central Agricultural University, Pasighat, Arunachal Pradesh. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Block Design with 9 treatments and 3 replications. The treatments were T₁=ZnSO₄ foliar spray @ 0.4 percent, T₂=ZnSO₄ foliar spray @ 0.8 percent, T₃=Borax foliar spray @ 0.4 percent, T₄=Borax foliar spray @ 0.8 percent, T₅= 2, 4-D foliar spray @ 10 ppm, T₆=2, 4-D foliar spray @ 20 ppm, T₇=GA₃ foliar spray @ 20 ppm, T₈=GA₃ foliar spray @ 40 ppm and T₉=Control. Most of the fruit and yield parameters were significantly increased in which the highest fruit set was recorded in T₅ (42.84%) followed by T₄ (42.10%). Decreased fruit cracking (5.07%) was recorded in T₇. number of fruits per tree (1162.66), maturity (69.33 days) and fruit yield (26.82 kg/tree) were found to be significant and highest which was recorded in T₈ and at par with T₇. TSS (18.09°Brix), total sugar (26.13%), reducing sugar (14.49%) and ascorbic acid (38.06 mg/100 ml) differed significantly where T₁ recorded the highest and was observed to be at par with T₇. Titratable acidity and malic acid however, were not significantly affected. T₁ significantly increased most of the biochemical parameters. So it can be concluded that T₁ was best for most of the quality parameters. However T₇ (GA₃ foliar spray @ 20 ppm) recorded significantly increased total soluble solids, total sugar, reducing sugar and ascorbic acid were found to be at par with highest. As a whole it can be concluded that T₇ (GA₃ foliar spray @ 20 ppm) is best for yield and quality parameters of litchi cv. Muzaffarpur under the foothills of Arunachal Pradesh.