Effect of foliar application of boron on vegetative and panicle growth, sex expression, fruit retention and physico-chemical characters of fruits of mango (Mangifera indica L.) cv. Dusehri.
Zora Singh, Dhillon B. S.
Author Affiliation: Department of Horticulture, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana 141 004, India.
Tropical Agriculture, UK 64 : 305-308
Abstract : Boric acid at 0, 500, 1000, 2000, 3000, 4000 or 5000 p.p.m. applied to trees at the late bud-swelling stage significantly increased vegetative growth, length and breadth of the panicle, fruit retention, and the TSS content, TSS:acid ratio and content of total sugars of fruits, compared with the control. Applications above 3000 p.p.m. inhibited the percentage of hermaphrodite flowers produced, and applications greater than 4000 p.p.m. reduced the length, breadth and weight of the fruits and the pulp:stone ratio. The ascorbic acid content of the fruits was significantly reduced in all treatments, compared with the control. Most of the desirable effects were achieved with 3000 p.p.m.