Studies on flowering induction, sex ratio and fruit set improvement in pomegranate

Abstract

The present study was conducted to induce flowering at the desired period with higher percentage of bisexual flowers and fruit set to improve yield and minimize fruit cracking through withholding of irrigation, pruning and ethrel application. Pooled data analysis revealed that horticultural interventions, chemical treatments and their interactions significantly affected sex ratio and fruit set. Among horticultural interventions, earliest defoliation (10.47 days), highest defoliation (81.25%), shortest flowering period (64.46 days), minimum male flowers (58.59%), maximum bisexual flowers (27.43%), maximum fruit set (25.84%) and fruit retention (82.23%) were recorded in withholding of irrigation during June + pruning and thinning as compared to control natural flowering. Among chemical treatments, earliest defoliation (7.59 days), highest defoliation (93.35%) and shortest flowering period (61.07 days) were recorded in ethrel 3 ml/l + DAP 5 g/l application while minimum male flowers (59.21%), maximum bisexual flowers (25.51%), maximum fruit set (25.16%) and fruit retention (80.74%) were recorded in ethrel 2 ml/l + DAP 5 g/l treatment as compared to control. Among interactions, earlier defoliation (6.78 days), highest defoliation (95.72%) and shortest flowering period (55.42 days) were observed in withholding of irrigation during June + pruning and thinning + ethrel 3 ml/l + DAP 5 g/l treatment. The minimum male flowers (57.78%), maximum bisexual flowers (28.22%), maximum fruit set (26.39%) and fruit retention (83.34%) were recorded in withholding of irrigation during June + pruning and thinning + ethrel 2 ml/l + DAP 5 g/l treatment as compared to maximum male flowers (66.36%), minimum bisexual flowers (22.03%), fruit set (22.19%) and fruit retention (75.28%) recorded in natural flowering without chemical treatment. Therefore, it can be concluded that withholding of irrigation during June + pruning and thinning + ethrel 2 ml/l + DAP 5 g/l treatment induced flowering during optimal climatic conditions and significantly improved sex ratio and fruit set of pomegranate.