A study was conducted to determine the
effect of paclobutrazol, Cycocel [chlormequat] and Chamatkar [mepiquat
chloride] on the water relations and fruit yield of sapota (A. sapota
[Manilkara zapota ]) cv. Kalipatti at the Horticultural Research
Station of the University of Bangalore, Karnataka, India. Treatments
comprised 250, 500 and 750 ppm Cycocel; 1000, 2000 and 3000 ppm
Chamatkar; 1.25, 2.50 and 5.00 g paclobutrazol; and control (water
spray or no spray). Paclobutrazol, Cycocel and Chamatkar were effective
in improving water relations and fruit yield of sapota. Paclobutrazol
at 5 g was the most effective. All growth regulators increased the
relative water content and decreased the transpiration, but the most
pronounced effect was with 5 g paclobutrazol. None of the growth
regulators affected the stomatal resistance. The growth regulator
treatments affected the second year fruit yield, unlike the first year
fruit yield. The highest fruit yield on the second year (56.3 kg/plant)
was obtained with 5 g paclobutrazol, while the control recorded the
lowest fruit yield (30.1 kg/plant). All the growth regulator treatments
were at par and significantly increased the fruit yield compared to the
control treatments.
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