of guava fruits (Psidium guajava L.)

Transcription

1 Some effects of iron spray on growth, yield and of guava fruits (Psidium guajava L.) quality J.S.ARORA and J.R.SINGH Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India Summary The guava trees were sprayed with 0.0%, 0.2% yield was observed under 0.4% spray. Maximum and 0.4% iron sulphate in July 1966 and It increase in fruit weight, length and diametre was was observed that iron spray in 0.2% and 0.4% noted under 0.2%. Maximum effect of acidity, non concentrations was highly capable to cause signifi- reducing sugars and Vit. C was exhibited under cant increase in various characters. The maximum 0.4% while reducing sugars and T.S.S. were affected increase in extension of terminal shoots, number of with 0.2% spray. leaves, leaf area per shoot, chlorophyll recovery and Iron has been recognized as an essential element and f oliar sprays of iron compounds have been used over past three decades on many crops to eliminate the iron deficiency~5,s,8,1 ~. Very encouraging results of different concentrations of iron sprays have been reported~4'6''). However, there was no report available on guava, therefore, an experiment was conducted to find out the effects of iron in terms of growth, yield and physicochemical composition of guava fruits when applied as f oliar spray. Materials and Methods The present experiment was conducted on guava, variety-allahabad Saf eda, in the Horticultural garden, Banaras Hindu University. Under each treatment one tree was selected as experimental unit and replicated three times. The age of selected trees was five years. They were. almost equal in size and vigour and were sprayed with 0.0%, 0.2% and 0.4% iron sulphate solutions during and The half amount of hydrated lime was added to the above solution. Plants were sprayed from A.M. to 5.00 P.M. on 11 th July in both the years with the view that sufficient time will be available for absorption, translocation and for metabolism before flowering and fruiting. Under present experiment only winter crop (main crop) was taken and rainy season crop was destroyed by withholding irrigation and hand picking of flowers. Growth Records In the present experiment, the growth characters were recorded upto only 15th January in both the years at the interval of two months, i.e. on 15th September, 15th November and 15th January. Extension of terminal shoots (cm), number of leaves and leaf area per shoot were recorded on 10 shoots, selected randomly per tree and total leaf area per shoot was calculated by following formula. log ~'A=log 2+ log ~L+log B+ log K-log N, where A = total leaf area exposed by the leaves, L = total length of all foliage, B = tatal of foliage taken in middle of lamina, K= leaf factor and N= number of leaves per shoot. width The leaf factor was calculated in a manner described by LAL and MEHROTRA~11~. In the Received for publication February 27,

2 140 Jour. Japan. Soc. Hort. Sci. 39 (2) present case K was For statistical analysis, the average of two years was used and three intervals as age factor. For the percentage of chlorosis, 50 leaves were selected at random per tree and were categorized as green and chlorotic leaves and percentage was calculated. Yield Yield of fruits was recorded on the basis of total number of fruits harvested from the tree when they were fully mature and statistical analysis was done by taking the years as age factor. Physicochemical composition of fruits The data are based on the analysis of ten fruits of average size and maturity, plucked from four sides of tree randomly. The fruit weight. length and diametre were recorded. The acidity was determined by titrating against N/10 NaOH using phenolphthalein as ann indicator. Sugars were estimated by Fehling solution method, using methylene blue as an indicator (12). The ascorbic acid was estimated by 2,6-dichloroindophenol dye method. Total soluble solids were determined by hand refractometer and values were corrected for 20 C. Statistical analysis was done by taking the years as age factor. Experimental findings Growth studies The extension of terminal shoots was significantly increased by the treatments but there was no significant difference between 0.2% and 0.4% spray. The maximum percentage of extension of shoots was observed under 0.4% spray (54.61). As the season advanced, there was reduction in extension of terminal shoot, showing 44.62% extension upto 15 th September and 33.02% and 22.38% upto 15th November and 15th January, respectively. Foliar spray of iron showed significant improvement in the number of leaves per shoot. The sprayed trees showed 47.73% and 61.08% increase over control under 0.2% and 0.4% spray, respectively, however this difference was not significant at 5 per cent level. With the advancement of the season, the production of leaves was also significantly reduced and 47.48%, 32.09% and 20.42% leaves were produced upto 15th September, 15th November and 15th January, respectively (Table 1.). The sprayed trees showed high order of superiority over control in terms of leaf area per shoot resulting an increase of 119.6% and % under 0.2% and 0.4% spray, respectively. The age factor exhibited the similar trend as for other characters. The chlorophyll content of leaves was increased with increase in concentration. It was quite evident from the Table 1 that both the concentrations reduced the chlorosis significantly and maximum per cent of recovery of chlorophyll of leaves was exhibited under 0.4% spray (95.09%). Yield High order of superiority was exhibited by the spray of iron with regard to yield. Both the concentrations showed significant improvement over control, however, the concentrations did not differ significantly at 5 per cent level. There was 150.0% and 122.2% increase under 0.2% and 0.4% spray, respectively (Table 2). Physicochemical composition of fruits As it is quite clear from the Table 3 that there was no significant improvement in weight of fruits but there was 9.36% and 6.35% increase under 0.2% and 0.4% spray, respectively. More or less similar trend was observed in the length and diametre of fruits. Iron sprays caused significant reduction in acidity of fruits and maximum reduction was observed under 0.4% spray. (19.23%). Reducing sugars were also significantly improved and 42

3 J. S. ARORA J. R. SINGH : Some effects of iron spray on guava 141 Table 1. Effect of iron concentrations and age on growth characters of guava. Table 2. Effect of guava fruits. iron spray on the yield of maximum increase (17.47%) was recorded under 0.2% spray and non reducing sugars were affected similarly but 0.4% spray showed maximum increase. Though Vit. C was not significantly increased but there was appreciable increase over control (Table 3). T.S.S. content of fruits was increased significantly due to iron spray Table 3. Effect of iron spray on physicochemical composition of guava fruits at harvest.

4 142 Jour. Japan. Soc. Hort. Sci. 39 (2) and there was no significant difference between 0.2% and 0.4% spray. Discussion Under the present experiment, sprayed trees showed significant improvement in their general growth condition and had luxuriant growth whereas untreated trees were found to be less in vigour and generally weak, which undoubtedly might be due to the efficient working of chlorophyll. In the present case also chlorosis was significantly reduced and chlorophyll was increased. Iron increases the chlorophyll content of leaves, reflecting the colour of leaves~14,15~. The iron chlorosis was efficiently controlled by spraying iron~5,s,s,l0. Other than formation, activities of enzymes like catalase, peroxidase and cytochrome chlorophyll oxidase found to be linked with iron. Other enzymes like polyphenol oxidase and succinic dehydrogenase were known to be interrelated with iron~9t. Sprayed trees produced more fruits in comparison to check trees. It showed that iron might have helped in the synthesis of certain hormones in the aerial parts to encourage flowering and fruiting. It has been reported that f oliar applications of iron sulphate in deficient fruit plants increased the yield (s, 13, 15) Iron had favourable influence on physicochemical composition of fruits, fruit weight, length and diametre were markedly increased. Further, it was observed that iron spray caused an increase in reducing and non reducing sugars, ascorbic acid and T.S.S. content of fruits. As indicated before, due to increase in enzymatic activity, cell division and cell growth in the presence of iron, there might be increase in the physical and chemical characters. Somewhat similar results were also obtained ~1,2,3T. Acknowledgement The authors are grateful to Dr. K. MATSUMOTO, Prof. of Citriculture, College of Agriculture, Ehime University, for his criticism of the manuscript. Supported by ICAR, New Delhi, to J.S.Arora. References 1. ALI, M., ALT, S. and MUSAHIB-UD-DIN Vigour and Productivity as affected by trace elements in citrus. Punjab Fruit Jour ANONYMOUS Sweeter tart cherries. Amer. Fruit. Gr. 80 (4) : CIBES, H. R. and G. SAMUELS Mineral deficiency symptoms displayed by smooth cayenne pineapple grown under controlled condition. Tech. Pap. P. R. Agric. Exp. Stat. 31 : CLORE,W.J. and V.P.BRUMMUND Some grape responses and problems in Proc. Wash. St. Hort. Ass DICKEY, R. D A preliminary report on Fe deficiency of tung in Florida. Fla. Agr. Exp. Stat. Bul. 381 : DIMZA, I The effect of microelements on the chlorosis of apple trees. Augsne un Raza. 9 : GANDIA-DIAZ, H. and G. SAMUELS Pineapple culture and processing in Pureto Rico. Bol. Estac. Exp. Agric. Rio. Piedras. 145 : GROZSMANN, H. M Pineapple culture in queensland. Qd. Agric. Jour. 67 : HEWITT, E. J Role of mineral elements in plant nutrition. Ann. Rev. Plant Physiol. 2 : KING,T.H., M.TREIT and A. D. BASKIN Sprays to control chlorosis in flex and strawberry grow in alkaline soil in Minnesota. Phytopathology 40 : LAL, K. N. and 0. N. MEHROTRA Interrelationship between leaf indices, leaf area and drought resistance in sugarcane. Proc. Ind. Acad. Sci. B. 24: LANE,J.H. and L.EYNON Determination 44

5 J.S.ARORA J.R.SINGH : Some effects of iron spray on guava of reducing sugars by Fehling solution with methylene blue as indicator. Jour. Soc. Chem. Ind. 42: 32. UDRIS, Ju We use micro-elements. Sadovodstvo. 1 : 17. WALLIHAN, E. F., T. W. EMBELTON and R. G. SHARPLES Response of chlorotic leaves to iron sprays in relation to surfactants and stomatal aperture. Proc. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. 85 : ZIV, D Chlorosis of bananas and other plants in Jordan valley due to Fe deficiency. Hassadeh. 25 :