EFFECT OF GA3 AND BA ON FRUIT WEIGHT, QUALITY AND RIPENING OF ‘ROSE SCENTED’ LITCHI

An attempt was made to study the effect of GA3 and BA on ripening of litchi cultivar Rose Scented. In this attempt, KNO3 (4%) was sprayed at 1 cm size of panicle in the first week of February. However, other treatments viz. GA3 (20, 40 ppm) and BA (20, 40 ppm) were applied two weeks before expected date of harvest (on 15th May). KNO3 (4%) advanced the harvesting date only for 2 days in comparison to control. GA3 20 and 40 ppm delayed the harvest date for 2 and 5 days, respectively while BA 20 ppm and 40 ppm delayed the harvest date for 5-6 days. In all the treated trees, fruit weight was found to be more than 21g as compared to control. Higher fruit quality attributes were recorded with GA3 (40 ppm) followed by GA3 20 ppm over other treatments. Reduced fruit cracking was also observed in trees which were sprayed with GA3 and BA.