Form No-3

NARENDRA DEVA UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE & TECHNOLOGY

Narendra Nagar (Kumarganj) Ayodhya-224 229 (U.P.)
Synopsis of Thesis Problem of M.Sc. Horticulture (Fruit Science) Student

Name of student : Anand Singh Rawat I.D. NO. : H-7716/14/18

Major Subject : Fruit Science Minor Subject : Vegetable Science
Major Advisor : Dr. Bhanu Pratap
Associate Professor,
Department of Fruit Science

Field of Research Problem: “Effect of foliar application of micronutrient & plant growth
regulators on yield and quality of winter season guava
(Psidium guajava L.) cv. L-49”

Introduction:
Guava (Psidium guajava L.), is one of the most important tropical and sub-
tropical fruit crop of India, which belongs to the family Myrtaceae. It is native of
tropical America, stretching from Mexico to Peru and gradually become a
commercial significance level of fruit crop in a several countries. It is cultivated in
India since early 17th century and gradually become a crop of commercial
significance.
Guava is fourth important fruit in area and production after mango, banana
and citrus. It is cultivated throughout the tropical and subtropical region. The
major producing countries are South Asian countries of the world.
 In India, guava is commercially grown in throughout the country
particularly Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Orissa, Punjab, Uttrakhand,
Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, and west Bengal. Uttar Pradesh is considered as the
most important guava producing state of India, in which Allahabad region has the
reputation of growing the best quality guava in the country as well as all over the
world. It covers around 3.7% (270000 ha) of total area under fruit crops and
contributes 3.3% (4107000MT) of total fruit production (NHB 2017-18).
Guava in one of the cheapest source of vitamin C (95.75 to 239.00 mg/ 100
g) and pectin (0.78 %). The ripe fruits contain 86.9% moisture, 19.3% dry matter,
0.76% ash, o.40% crude fat, 1.13% crude protein and 6.2% crude fiber but its
composition varies widely with cultivar, stage of maturity and season (Ghosh and
Chattopadhyay, 1996). They also contain 8.2 to 10.50Brix total soluble solid, 4.9
to 10.1 per cent total sugar content, 0.22 to 0.39 per cent acidity and ascorbic acid
260 mg/100g of fruit pulp (Mitra, 1999) with good amount of iron, calcium and
phosphorus. Besides, this is also contains an appreciable amount of vitamins,
minerals, protein and sugars too. Therefore, it has been considered as “poor man’s
apple”.
One of the important factors which limits the production is micronutrients
namely zinc, boron, manganese etc. Their use play an important role to avoid
hidden nutrient hunger. Nutrient requirement of guava vary with varieties and
agro climatic conditions. Zinc is an essential Nutrient for plants, being involved in
many enzymatic reactions and is necessary for good growth and development.
Zinc is also involved in regulating the protein and carbohydrate metabolism.
Similarly zinc also increases the chlorophyll content of leaves and essential for
enzyme activities like catalase, peroxidase and cytochrome chlorophyll oxidase
(Rawat et al., 2010).

The beneficial effect of foliar application of nutrients is based on the fact that
nutrients reach directly to leaves which are the sites of metabolism. Inspite of this,
they are made available to plants at the proper time when it is needed. However,
response of plants to these nutrients may vary depending upon the soil and
agroclimatic condition. It is therefore, essential to evaluate the effect of various
nutrients and their concentrations under different location for their practical
recommendation.

Recently, it has been found that foliar application of plant growth regulator
(GA3) exerted favorable effect on the physico-chemical characters of guava fruits
at harvest (Kher et al, 2005). GA3 induces cell division and elongation in plants
and its uses in fruit plants increases yield and quality of fruits.

Keeping the above fact, in view, the present investigation was undertaken to
study the “Effect of foliar application of micronutrients & plant growth
regulators on yield and quality of winter season guava (Psidium guajava L.) cv.
L-49” with the following objectives:

1. To observe the effect of Micronutrients and Plant Growth Regulators on

flowering behaviour of guava,

2. To observe the effect of Micronutrients and Plant Growth Regulators on fruit

yield of guava, and

3. To observe the effect of Micronutrients and Plant Growth Regulators on

quality of guava fruit.
REVIEW OF LITERATURE

The foliar spray of micronutrients and plant growth regulators has gained
important for increasing quality and yield of many fruits. It is mainly based on the fact
that leaves and fruits directly absorb nutrients and thus reach to the site of metabolism.
Efforts have been made by number of research workers to evaluate the effect of
nutrient and plant growth regulator on different fruit crops.
The relevant literature on the effect of micronutrient and plant growth regulators
on quality and yield of fruit of guava (Psidium guajava L.) cv. L-49 has been briefly
reviewed under the following heads.

Chaitanya et al. (1997) reported that foliar feeding of 0.3 percent zinc sulphate and
borax increased the length and diameter of fruit and improved the yield in guava cv.
Lucknow-49.

Babu and Singh (1998) advocated that foliar application of 0.6 percent zinc sulphate
significantly increased fruit size and weight in litchi.

Das et al. (2000) observed that the spraying of 0.5 or 1.0 percent zinc sulphate 25-27
days after fruit set increased the weight, volume and size of fruit of guava. Dashora et
al. (2005) reported that foliar application of Zinc sulphate and boric acid significantly
increased fruit yield of guava.

Samant et al. (2008) found that the maximum yield (94.5 kg/tree) was recorded with
application of 0.4% ZnSO4, while minimum (62.25 kg/tree) was recorded with control
in guava tree.

Katiyar et al. (2009) studied the effect of nutrients and plant growth regulators on the
physico-chemical characters and yield of guava cv. Allahabad Safeda. Nutrients viz.
urea 2%, K2SO4 1%, borax 0.2%, ZnSO4 0.2% and plant growth regulators viz. GA3
150 ppm, ethrel 250 ppm and NAA 100 ppm were taken for experimentation. The
highest yield was observed in urea 2 % + NAA 100ppm.

Rawat et al. (2010) carried out an experiment on guava cv. Lucknow-49 (Sardar) to
improve the quality of fruit by foliar application of micronutrients i.e. zinc, copper and
boron at 0.2, 0.3 and 0.4% alone and in combination of two and three, with control.
TSS, total sugars, sugar-acid ratio and seed weight significantly improved, whereas,
significant reduction in acidity was exhibited with the foliar application of zinc
sulphate at 0.4% concentration. Thus micronutrient spray with 0.4% zinc sulphate and
0.4% boric acid are beneficial for improvement of fruit quality in guava.

Sharma et al. (2011) found that the foliar application of nutrients (urea 1.0%, ZnSO4
0.5% and potassium sulfate 1.0%) and growth regulators (GA 3 50 ppm and NAA 20
ppm) significantly increased the fruit yield of ber over control. Maximum fruit yield
(119.2 and 103.5 kg/tree) were obtained with foliar application of 0.5% zinc sulfate,
closely followed by 20 ppm NAA treatment during 2002 and 2003, respectively. Three
numbers of sprays of these chemicals (at flower initiation, 20 and 40 days after first
spray) were found effective in increasing the fruit retention and yield.

Goswami et al. (2012) reported that spraying of zinc sulphate 0.4 percent twice viz. 45
and 25 days before harvesting improved the physico-chemical properties of guava cv.
Sardar.

Pandey et al. (2012) reported that the application of NAA 20 ppm + GA3 40 ppm +
ZnSO4 0.4% proved the most effective treatment for increasing fruit length (3.98 cm),
width (2.99 cm), weight (20.13g), yield (118.25 kg), TSS (14.20° Brix), total sugars
(10.71%), acidity (0.17%) and ascorbic acid (78.35mg) content in ber cv. Banarsi
Karaka.

Patel et al. (2013) indicated that foliar application of urea, NAA, GA3, 2, 4-D, ZnSO4
at full bloom and at pea stage of fruit development significantly increased the fruit
retention at various stages of fruit growth and development over unsprayed trees.
Highest fruit yield 30.38 kg per tree was recorded with the application of 20 ppm NAA
which was found to be significantly superior over all the other treatments and control
in ber tree.

Kumar et al. (2014) found maximum fruit size (length and breadth), fruit weight,
juice per cent, T.S.S., total sugars, ascorbic acid and minimum acidity were recorded
with the combined spray of GA3 @ 20 ppm +NAA @ 50 ppm + ZnSO4 @ 0.4 % +
Urea @ 2 % followed by GA3 @ 20 ppm + Urea @ 2 %.

Arora et al. (2014) observed the significant increase in fruit size (fruit length, breadth,
weight and volume) with application of NAA 30 ppm. For the stone related traits, the
maximum reduction in stone breadth and percentage was recorded with NAA 30 ppm.
There was no significant variation in stone length and weight with growth regulators in
ber tree.

Sharma and Tiwari (2015) observed that foliar spray of NAA 100 ppm proved best to
increase the phycical parameters of Allahabad Safeda. Maximum fruit volume (174.6
ml), fruit length (6.54 cm) and diameter (5.74 cm) at harvest, number of fruit/plant
(251.1), average fruit weight (223.37 g) and yield/tree (56.10 kg) maximum ascorbic
acid and pectin content were recorded with foliar spray of NAA 100 ppm. However
maximum TSS (12.6 0Brix), acidity (0.35%), total sugars (10.42%), reducing sugar
(5.82%), non reducing sugar (4.60%) were recorded with foliar spray of GA3 150 ppm.
Technical Programme:

T1 - control (NPK)

T2 - ZnSo4 @ 1.0%

T3 - ZnSo4 @ 1.5%

T4 - Borax @ 1.0%

T5 - Borax @ 1.5%

T6 - CuSo4 @ 0.5%

T7 - CuSo4 @ 1.0%
T8 - NAA @ 25ppm
T9 - GA3 @ 25ppm

2. Experiment details of layout:

Design : R.B.D. (Randomized Block Design)

Numbers of replications : 3
Plant unit : 1
Number of Plants : 27
Total Treatment : 9
Name of Varieties : L-49
Age of plant : 35 years
A. Yield attributes

1. No. of flower

2. Fruit set (%)

3. Fruit retention (%)

4. No. of Fruit / plant

5. Fruit yield (Kg / plant)

6. Fruit yield (q/ha)

B. Physical character

1. Fruit length (cm)

2. Fruit width (cm)

3. Fruit weight (gm)

4. Fruit volume (cm3)

5. Specific gravity (%)

C. Chemical character

1. TSS (0Brix)

2. Acidity (%)

3. Ascorbic acid (mg/100g Fruit Pulp)

4. Reducing sugar (%)

5. Non – reducing sugar (%)

6. Total sugar (%)

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Babu, N. and Singh, A.R. (1998). Effect of boron, zinc and copper sprays on growth
and development of litchi fruits. Punjab Hort. J., 34 (3-4): 75-79.

Dahiya, S.S.; Joon, M.S. and Daulta, B.S. (1993). Effect of foliar application of
micronutrients on yield and quality of guava (Psidium guajava L.) cv. L-49.
Indian J. Trop. Agric. 11(4): 284-286.

Dutta, P. and Banik, A. K. (2007). Effect of foliar feeding of nutrients and plant
growth regulators on physico-chemical quality of sardar guava grown in red and
lateritic tract of West Bengal. Acta sHorticulturae ; 7 (35):407-411.

Jain, M.C. and Dashora, L.K. (2007). Growth, flowerin, fruting and yield of guava
(Psidium guajava L.) cv. Sardar as influenced by various plant growth
regulators. J. Agric Sci. 3(1): 4-7.

Kumar R.; Tiwari R and Kumawat, B. R. (2013). Quantative and qualitative

enhancement in guava (Psidium guajava L.) cv.Chittidar through foliar feeding.
International J. of Agri. Science, 2 (9):177-181.

Kumar, R.; Tiwari, J.P. and Lal, S. (2010). Influence of zinc sulphate and boric acid
spray on vegetative growth and yield of winter season guava (Psidium guajava
L.) cv. Pant Prabhat. J. Res.; 8 (1): 135-138.

Kumar, S.; Kumar, A. and Verma, D.K. (2004). Effect of micronutrients and NAA
on yield and quality of litchi (Litchi chinesnis Sonn.) cv. Dehradun. Inter.
Seminar on Rec. Trend Hi. Tech Hort and PHT, Kanpur Feb 4-6, 2004 193.

Kumar, S.; Singh, A. K. and Yadav, A. L. (2010). Effect of foliar application of

GA3, NAA, KNO3 and Borax on fruit quality of rainy season guava cv.
Lucknow-49. Plant Archives, 10 (1): 317-319.
Kumar, S.P.; Singh, C. and Jain, B.P. (1998). Effect of foliar feeding of K, N, Zn
and GA on chemical composition of guava fruit (Psidium guajava L.) J.
Research, Birsa. Agri. Uni. 10 : 2 173-176.

Kundu, S. and Mitra, S.K. (1999). Response of guava to foliar spray of copper, boron
and zinc. Indian Agric. 43(1&2): 49-54.

Mishra, L. N.; Singh, S. K.; Sharma, H. C.; Goswami, A. M. and Pratap, B.

(2003). Effect of micronutrients on fruit yield and quality of Kinnow mandarin
under high density planting. Indian J. Hort., 60 (2): 131-134.

Mitra, S.K. (1999). In: Tropical Horticulture Vol. I (Eds: T.K. Bose, S.K. Mitra, A.A.
Farooqui and M.K. Sandhu) Nayak Prakash, Calcutta, pp. 297-307.
 ADVISORY COMMITTEE

Name & Designation Signature

Major Advisor Dr. Bhanu Pratap

& Chairman Associate Professor,
Deptt. of Fruit Science

Member (Major) Dr. D. Ram

Professor,
Deptt. of Fruit Science

Member (Minor) Dr. C.N.Ram

Associate Professor,
Deptt. of Vegetable Science

Member (Related Field) Dr. Neeraj kumar

Associate Professor,
Deptt. of Soil Science

Nominee of the Dean Dr. P. K. Singh

Professor,
Deptt. of Vegetable Science

Head of Department

CC:
1. Student
2. All member of Advisory Committee
3. Head of Department
4. Registrar

Approved
College of Horticulture and Forestry