RESPONSE OF BORON, ZINC AND COPPER ON QUALITY OF AONLA FRUITS CV. BANARASI

Field studies were conducted in Uttar Pradesh, India, in 2006 and 2007, to determine the influence of boron (B), zinc (Zn) and copper (Cu) in fruit quality of aonla (Phyllanthus emblica) cv. Banarasi. The treatments comprised 0.1, 0.2 and 0.3% B, 0.2, 0.4 and 0.6 Zn and 0.1, 0.2 and 0.3% Cu along with a control. The quality parameters of aonla fruits, i.e. TSS, acidity, total sugars, reducing sugars, non-reducing sugars and ascorbic acid content, were estimated. Results showed that The TSS of aonla fruits was improved significantly with the foliar application of al 3 trace elements. The fruit acidity was significantly reduced by increasing concentrations of the trace elements. Both foliar spray of trace elements and their levels when examined individually influence the sugar content significantly. Significant improvements in reducing and non-reducing sugar contents were also observed after application of the trace elements. Zn was significantly superior than B and Cu in improving the ascorbic acid content of aonla fruits.