Ber (Zizyphus mauritiana Lamk)  is a hardy fruit
tree which can be successfully grown in arid and semi-arid
zones of Indian states particularly Haryana, Rajasthan,
Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat, where most of other fruit
plants fail to grow due to lack of irrigation facilities. Ber
fruit is very popular among consumers due to its high nutritive
value and comparatively lower market price. The fruit of
ber is considered more nutritive than apple for its higher
protein, beta-carotene and vitamin C contents (Rai and
Gupta, 1994). In Punjab, the commercial cultivation of ber
is largely focused on single cultivar ‘Umran’. However, sub-
montane region of state having higher relative humidity,
Sanaur-2 cultivar is recommended due to its higher tolerance
to powdery mildew disease as compared to Umran. But
heavy fruit drop is a major obstacle for expansion of ber
industry in this region. The bulk of fruit drop occurs at early
stage of fruit development i.e, during second fortnight of
December. Many reasons such as hormonal imbalance,
abortion of embryo and inclement weather have been
ascribed to drop immature fruits in ber (Singh et al, 1991).
Application of NAA and ZnSO

4
 alone or in combinations

Short communication

J. Hortl. Sci.
Vol. 4 (2): 161-163, 2009

Effect of growth regulator and nutrients spray on control of fruit drop,
fruit size and quality of ber under sub-montane zone of Punjab

P.P.S. Gill and J.S. Bal
Department of Horticulture

Punjab Agricultural University
Ludhiana - 141 004, Punjab, India
E-mail: timgill740@rediffmail.com

ABSTRACT

The effect of foliar spray of plant growth regulators and nutrients on fruit drop, fruit size and quality was studied in
ber cv Sanuar-2 at Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Hoshiarpur, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, during  2005-2006.
Plants were sprayed with NAA (20, 30 or 40 ppm), KNO

3
 (0.5, 1.0 or 1.5%) and ZnSO

4
 (0.3, 0.4 or 0.5%) during the

last week of October and again superimposed in the last week of November. All the treatments resulted in decreased
fruit drop compared to control. Minimum fruit drop (69.6%) was recorded with application of NAA (30 ppm) while
maximum was recorded in control. Plants sprayed with KNO

3
 (1.5%) exhibited maximum fruit size, fruit weight

while this was minimum in control trees. Palatability rating of fruits was maximum with KNO
3
 (1.5%) which also

exhibited maximum fruit size, fruit weight and minimum was observed in control trees besides producing fruits with
on attractive colour. Total soluble solids were not affected by  treatments. Maximum vitamin C (104.2 mg/100 g pulp)
content was observed in NAA (30 ppm), followed by KNO

3
 (1.5%) treatment. Results indicated that NAA (30 ppm)

spray was better for fruit retention; however, fruit quality in terms of size, colour and palatability rating was better
with KNO

3
 (1.5%).

Key words: Ber, fruit drop, fruit quality, plant growth regulators, nutrients

were effective in reducing fruit drop in ber cv Umran (Yadav
et al, 2004). Similarly, foliar application of KNO

3
 (1.5 %)

alone or in combination with urea at pea size stage increased
fruit size and quality in cv. Umran (Yadav, 2001). Keeping
in view of above findings, the present study was undertaken
to find out the efficacy of foliar sprays of NAA, KNO

3
 and

ZnSO
4
 in checking the fruit drop and improving quality of

ber cv. Sanaur.

The present investigation was carried out at ber
orchard of Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Hoshiarpur, a centre of
Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, during 2005-2006,
planted at 7.5 x 7.5 meters under square system. Four-years-
old plants of uniform vigour of ber cv. Sanaur-2 maintained
under uniform cultural practices and plant protection
measures were selected. Aqueous solution of different
chemicals viz; Naphthalene acetic acid (20, 30 and 40 ppm),
KNO

3
 (0.5, 1.0 and 1.5%) and ZnSO

4
 (0.3, 0.4 and 0.5 %)

were applied as foliar spray. The different nutrient solutions
were prepared separately by dissolving the required quantity
of salts in water. The trees were sprayed in last week of



162

October and November months. The control trees were
sprayed with water. Ten treatments including control were
laid out in completely randomized block design with three
replications. In each replication, four branches were tagged
and fruits from these were counted just before the first spray.
The fruit drop was estimated at the time of harvesting by
counting the number of fruits retained in labelled branches.
Fruits were harvested at optimum maturity. Thirty fruits per
replication were taken at random to determine physico-
chemical characteristics. Fruit size (Length x breadth) was
measured with the help of Vernier Calipers. Fruit weight
was measured with electronic balance and expressed in
gram. The colour of fruits was recorded with ‘Royal
Horticultural Society Colour Chart’ (Wilson, 1938).
Palatability rating in terms of general appearance, taste and
flavour were recorded by panel of five judges. Total soluble
solids were measured with hand refractometer and the
values were corrected to 20oC with the help of temperature
correction chart. Total acids were determined by titrating
the known weight of finely blended pulp with 0.1N NaOH
using phenolphthalein as an indicator. Vitamin C content was
determined by titrating the juice against 2, 6-dichlorphenol
indophenol dye solution to a light pink colour which persisted
for 15 seconds.  The results were expressed as mg/100 g
of fruit flesh. The data were analysed statistically by
randomized block design (RBD) method using CPCS-1
computer software package.

A. Fruit drop and physical characteristics of fruit

The data on fruit drop, fruit colour, fruit size and
weight are presented in Table 1. All the sprayed treatments,
except KNO

3
 (1.0% and 1.5%) significantly decreased

fruit drop over control. The decrease in fruit drop, however,
seemed to vary with different chemicals and their

concentrations employed. Minimum fruit drop (69.6%) was
recorded in NAA 30 ppm treatment which was statistically
on par with NAA 20 pppm, ZnSO

4
 (0.4%) and ZnSO

4

(0.5%) treatments. However, the maximum fruit drop of
82.7 per cent was observed in control trees. Reduction in
fruit drops of ber with NAA applications have also been
reported by earlier workers (Bal et al, 1984 and Singh et
al, 2001). The effect of ZnSO

4
 in controlling the fruit drop

might be due to the higher availability of photosynthates
and promotes auxin synthesis necessary for fruit set and
growth.

 Application of KNO
3
 (1.0 and 1.5%) and ZnSO

4

(0.5%) resulted attractive yellowish green colour (YG 154
B) fruit as compared to green coloured (YG 150 B) fruits in
rest of the treatments including control.

Significantly higher fruit size was registered in NAA
(30 ppm), KNO

3
 (0.5 & 1.0%) and ZnSO

4
 (0.5%)

treatments as compared to control. The maximum fruit size
was recorded in KNO

3
 (1.5%) closely followed by ZnSO

4

(0.5%) treatment. The minimum fruit size was recorded in
control. Similarly, the maximum fruit weight of 24.0 g was
recorded in KNO

3
 (1.5%) and minimum of 20.2 g was

observed in control. Similar increase in fruit weight with
foliar application of KNO

3
 was noted by Ebraheim et al

(1993) in ‘Balady’ mandarins. Increase in fruit size with
ZNSO

4
 was also reported by Samant et al (2008). Auxins

are known to play fundamental role in determining fruit
growth (Arteca, 1996). These results are in agreement with
findings of Singh et al (2001), who observed higher fruit
size and weight with ZnSO

4
, K

2
SO

4
 and NAA treatments.

Lal et al (2001) also observed increase in fruit weight of
‘Umran’ ber with application of potassium in combination
with nitrogen.

Table 1. Effect of plant growth regulators and nutrients on fruit drop, fruit colour, fruit size and fruit weight of ber cv. Sanaur-2

Treatment Fruit drop (%) Fruit colour Fruit length (cm) Fruit breadth (cm) Fruit weight (g)

NAA 20 ppm 70.5 (57.1) *YG-150 B 4.45 2.96 21.2
NAA 30 ppm 69.6 (56.5)   YG-150 B 4.62 3.02 22.9
NAA 40 ppm 76.9 (61.3)   YG-150 B 4.50 2.98 21.8
KNO

3
 0.5% 77.5 (61.7)   YG-150 B 4.57 3.00 22.4

KNO
3
 1.0% 80.6 (63.8)   YG-154 B 4.60 3.05 22.1

KNO
3
 1.5% 81.7 ( 64.7)   YG-154 B 4.71 3.09 24.0

ZnSO
4
 0.3% 74.0 (59.3)   YG-154 B 4.43 2.93 21.4

ZnSO
4
 0.4% 71.8 (57.9)   YG-150 B 4.43 2.94 21.8

ZnSO
4
 0.5% 72.6 (58.4)   YG-154 B 4.66 3.03 23.8

Control 82.7 (65.4)   YG-150 B 4.38 2.90 20.2
CD at P=0.05         (1.92) -- 0.13 0.10 2.06

Figures in parenthesis indicate arc sine transformed values
* YG = Yellow green

J. Hortl. Sci.
Vol. 4 (2): 161-163, 2009

Gill and  Bal



163

B. Quality of fruit

Data on quality parameters of fruit are presented
in Table 2. The palatability rating of fruits was increased by
various foliar sprays as compared to control. Significantly
higher palatability rating was observed in NAA 40 ppm,
KNO

3
 (1.5%), ZnSO

4
 (0.4%) and ZnSO

4
 (0.5%) treatments

as compared to control. The highest palatability rating (16.5)
was recorded with KNO

3
 (1.5%) treatment and the fruits

were marked ‘Excellent’. The minimum palatable rating was
observed in control.

TSS content was not influenced by the spray
treatments. All the treatments significantly decreased acid
content of fruits as compared to control except, NAA (20
ppm) and ZnSO

4
 (0.4 & 0.5%) treatments, where it was

statistically at par. TSS / acid ratio was unaffected by
different treatments.

Vitamin C content of fruit ranged from 84.7 mg/
100g in control to 104.2 mg/100 g in NAA 30 ppm treatment.
Significantly higher vitamin C content was recorded in NAA
(30 & 40 ppm) and KNO

3
 (1.5%) treatments as compared

to control. Similar results were also reported by Singh et al
(2002).

REFERENCES

Arteca, R. 1996. Plant Growth Substances: Principles
and Applications. pp  57., Chapman & Hall, New
York

Bal, J.S., Singh, S.N., Randhawa, J.S. and Jawandha, J.S.
1984. Effect of growth regulators on fruit drop, size
and quality of ber (Zizyphus mauritiana Lamk).
Indian J. Hort., 41:182-185

Ebrahiem, T.A., Ahmed, F.F. and Assy, K.G. 1993. Behavior

(MS Received 6 April 2009, Revised 26 October 2009)

Table 2.  Effect of plant growth regulators and nutrients on fruit quality characteristics ber cv. Sanaur-2

Treatment Palatability rating  (max. 20) TSS (%) Acidity (%) TSS/acid ratio Vitamin C (mg/100g)

NAA 20 ppm 14.6 15.4 0.40 38.9 93.3
NAA 30 ppm 14.7 16.2 0.38 43.2 104.2
NAA 40 ppm 15.9 17.2 0.34 50.5 101.6
KNO

3
 0.5% 15.2 16.0 0.35 46.0 88.3

KNO
3
 1.0% 15.4 15.8 0.32 49.5 93.3

KNO
3
 1.5% 16.5 16.9 0.35 48.6 102.1

ZnSO
4
 0.3% 14.8 15.9 0.35 45.8 99.5

ZnSO
4
 0.4% 15.8 15.6 0.41 37.7 98.2

ZnSO
4
 0.5% 15.7 16.2 0.42 38.9 93.6

Control 14.6 15.4 0.45 34.0 84.7
CD at P=0.05 0.9 NS 0.06 NS 10.44

of Balady mandarin tree (C. reticulata) grown in
sandy loam soil to different forms and concentrations
of potassium foliar sprays. J. Agric. Sci., 24:215-227

Lal, G., Dhaka, R.S. Agarwal, V.K. Goyal, S.K. and Pareek,
C.S. 2001. A note physico-   chemical attributes of
Umran ber as affected by application of nitrogen and
potassium. Haryana J. Hort. Sci., 30:204-205

Rai, M. and Gupta, P.N. 1994. Genetic diversity in ber.
Indian J. Hort., 39:42-47

Samant D., Mishra, N.K. and Lal,  R.L. 2008. Effect of
micronutrient sprays on fruit yield and quality during
storage in ber cv. Umran under ambient conditions.
Indian J. Hort., 65:399-404

Singh, R., Godara, N.R., Singh, R. and Dahiya, S.S. 2001.
Response of foliar applicatoin of growth regulators
and nutrients in ber (Zizyphus mauritiana Lamk)
Haryana J. Hort. Sci., 30:161-164

 Singh, R., Godara, N.R. and Ahlawat, V.P. 2002. Qualitative
attributes as affected by foliar sprays of nutrients and
growth regulators in ber (Zizyphus mauritiana Lamk.)
cv. Umran. Haryana J. Hort. Sci., 31:23-25

Singh, Z., Dhillon, B.S. and Sandhu, A.S. 1991. Relationship of
embryo degeneration with fruit drop and its pattern in
different cultivars of ber. Indian J. Hort., 48:277-281

Wilson, R.R. 1938. Horticultural colour charts. Wilson
Colours Ltd in collaboration with the Royal
Horticultural Society and British Council.

Yadav, B., Rana, G.S. and Bhatia, S.K. 2004. Response of
Naphthalene acetic acid, urea and Zinc sulphate on
fruit drop in ber (Zizyphus mauritiana Lamk).
Haryana J. Hort. Sci., 33:181-182

Yadav, P.K. 2001. Note on foliar application of urea and
potassium sulphate on yield and quality of ber. Curr.
Agri., 25:129-130

Effect of growth regulators and nutrient spray on fruiting in ber

J. Hortl. Sci.
Vol. 4 (2): 161-163, 2009