Vol. 12, Issue 9 (2023)

Author(s):
AS Kalatippi, SK Pandey, AD Huchche and Reena Nair

Abstract:
The research was carried out at ICAR-CCRI, Nagpur during 2020 and 2021 to improve fruit yield, quality characteristics and to manage the creasing disorder incidence with delayed harvesting of one month in Mrig bahar of Nagpur mandarin (Citrus reticulata Blanco) through foliar application of different concentrations of gibberellic acid (10, 15, 20 and 25 ppm). Maximum number of fruits per plant (716), yield per plant (105.60 kg/plant), yield per hectare (29.25 t/ha), fruit weight (147.25 g), fruit length (58.53 mm), fruit breadth (67.60 mm), fruit volume (145.37 cm³), juice per cent (45.67%), vitamin C (40.73 mg/100 ml) content and minimum per cent of creasing (3.74%) incidence was noted in GA₃ 25 ppm + urea 1.5% over the control. Maximum fruit firmness (2.55 kg/cm²) was noted in GA₃ 20 ppm + urea 1.5% followed by GA₃ 25 ppm + urea 1.5% (2.36 kg/cm²) indicates the delayed ripening of fruits, which helps in storage of fruits on tree by controlling the incidence of creasing disorder whereas minimum fruit firmness (1.62 kg/cm²) was noted in control. Maximum TSS (11.63%) and TSS/Acid ratio (15.11) were recorded in control followed by GA₃ 10 ppm + urea 1.5% (10.32% and 13.05, respectively) indicates fruits were more ripened compared to other treatments whereas minimum TSS (9.86%) was noted in GA₃ 20 ppm + urea 1.5% and minimum TSS/Acid ratio (12.20) was noted in GA₃ 25 ppm + urea 1.5% indicates fruits were firm and less matured compared to other treatments. The foliar spray of GA₃ 20 or 25 ppm along with urea 1.5% will slow down the senescence process of cells, and maintains the compactness of albedo tissues, thus reduced creasing incidence with improvement in yield and quality parameters of Nagpur mandarin fruits in delayed harvesting of one month.