Enhancing Fruit Retention and Juice Quality in ‘Kinnow’ (<i>Citrus reticulata</i>) Through the Combined Foliar Application of Potassium, Zinc, and Plant Growth Regulators
Improving fruit quality and reducing pre-harvest fruit drop are critical goals for <i>Citrus reticulata</i> production in Pakistan, where climatic and nutritional challenges affect yield and juice quality. This study evaluated the combined effects of plant growth regulators (salicylic ac...
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MDPI AG
2024-11-01
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| Series: | Horticulturae |
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| author | Iqra Arshad Muhammad Saleem Muhammad Akhtar Muhammad Yousaf Shani Ghulam Farid Wacław Jarecki Muhammad Yasin Ashraf |
| author_facet | Iqra Arshad Muhammad Saleem Muhammad Akhtar Muhammad Yousaf Shani Ghulam Farid Wacław Jarecki Muhammad Yasin Ashraf |
| author_sort | Iqra Arshad |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Improving fruit quality and reducing pre-harvest fruit drop are critical goals for <i>Citrus reticulata</i> production in Pakistan, where climatic and nutritional challenges affect yield and juice quality. This study evaluated the combined effects of plant growth regulators (salicylic acid and indole acetic acid) and nutrients (potassium and zinc) on fruit drop and juice volume in <i>Citrus reticulata</i> L. Field trials were conducted at three locations in Punjab, Pakistan (Layyah, Faisalabad, and Sargodha) using a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with five replications per treatment. Nutrients (K and Zn at 100 mg/L each) and growth regulators (SA at 100 mg/L and IAA at 5 mg/L) were applied individually or in combination at three growth stages. Statistical analyses, including PCA, ANOVA, and GGE biplot, were used to identify the most effective treatments for improving fruit juice quality and reducing fruit drop. The combined foliar application of SA + K + Zn was the most effective across all parameters, except fruit drop, juice citric acid contents, and juice pH, which were negatively affected. The highest juice potassium content was observed with K application. The PCA and GGE biplot analysis indicated that the Sargodha orchard performed best, with the SA + K treatment being the most effective there, while SA + K + Zn showed the best results at Layyah and Faisalabad for reducing fruit drop, enhancing juice volume, and improving fruit quality. However, individual fruit, juice, and juice nutrient contents traits analyses revealed that the most significant improvements in fruit and juice quality were observed at the Sargodha site instead of Layyah and Faisalabad. The treatment SA + K + Zn proved to be the most stable and consistent in enhancing citrus fruit and juice quality across all three selected locations. The findings suggest that adopting the SA + K + Zn treatment could be a practical approach for citrus farmers aiming to enhance crop yield and fruit quality, thereby supporting agricultural productivity and export potential in Pakistan. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-d01c778f8fe4403690450366607f60f2 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2311-7524 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Horticulturae |
| spelling | doaj-art-d01c778f8fe4403690450366607f60f22025-08-20T02:00:46ZengMDPI AGHorticulturae2311-75242024-11-011012124510.3390/horticulturae10121245Enhancing Fruit Retention and Juice Quality in ‘Kinnow’ (<i>Citrus reticulata</i>) Through the Combined Foliar Application of Potassium, Zinc, and Plant Growth RegulatorsIqra Arshad0Muhammad Saleem1Muhammad Akhtar2Muhammad Yousaf Shani3Ghulam Farid4Wacław Jarecki5Muhammad Yasin Ashraf6Soil and Environmental Sciences Division, Nuclear Institute for Agriculture and Biology, P.O. Box 128, Jhang Road, Faisalabad 38000, PakistanSoil and Environmental Sciences Division, Nuclear Institute for Agriculture and Biology, P.O. Box 128, Jhang Road, Faisalabad 38000, PakistanSoil and Environmental Sciences Division, Nuclear Institute for Agriculture and Biology, P.O. Box 128, Jhang Road, Faisalabad 38000, PakistanNuclear Institute for Agriculture and Biology, College (NIAB-C), Pakistan Institutes of Engineering and Applied Science (PIEAS), Islamabad 45650, PakistanSoil and Environmental Sciences Division, Nuclear Institute for Agriculture and Biology, P.O. Box 128, Jhang Road, Faisalabad 38000, PakistanDepartment of Crop Production, University of Rzeszow, Zelwerowicza 4, 35-601 Rzeszow, PolandSoil and Environmental Sciences Division, Nuclear Institute for Agriculture and Biology, P.O. Box 128, Jhang Road, Faisalabad 38000, PakistanImproving fruit quality and reducing pre-harvest fruit drop are critical goals for <i>Citrus reticulata</i> production in Pakistan, where climatic and nutritional challenges affect yield and juice quality. This study evaluated the combined effects of plant growth regulators (salicylic acid and indole acetic acid) and nutrients (potassium and zinc) on fruit drop and juice volume in <i>Citrus reticulata</i> L. Field trials were conducted at three locations in Punjab, Pakistan (Layyah, Faisalabad, and Sargodha) using a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with five replications per treatment. Nutrients (K and Zn at 100 mg/L each) and growth regulators (SA at 100 mg/L and IAA at 5 mg/L) were applied individually or in combination at three growth stages. Statistical analyses, including PCA, ANOVA, and GGE biplot, were used to identify the most effective treatments for improving fruit juice quality and reducing fruit drop. The combined foliar application of SA + K + Zn was the most effective across all parameters, except fruit drop, juice citric acid contents, and juice pH, which were negatively affected. The highest juice potassium content was observed with K application. The PCA and GGE biplot analysis indicated that the Sargodha orchard performed best, with the SA + K treatment being the most effective there, while SA + K + Zn showed the best results at Layyah and Faisalabad for reducing fruit drop, enhancing juice volume, and improving fruit quality. However, individual fruit, juice, and juice nutrient contents traits analyses revealed that the most significant improvements in fruit and juice quality were observed at the Sargodha site instead of Layyah and Faisalabad. The treatment SA + K + Zn proved to be the most stable and consistent in enhancing citrus fruit and juice quality across all three selected locations. The findings suggest that adopting the SA + K + Zn treatment could be a practical approach for citrus farmers aiming to enhance crop yield and fruit quality, thereby supporting agricultural productivity and export potential in Pakistan.https://www.mdpi.com/2311-7524/10/12/1245<i>Citrus reticulata</i>fruit qualitypre-harvest fruit dropplant growth regulatorsfoliar application |
| spellingShingle | Iqra Arshad Muhammad Saleem Muhammad Akhtar Muhammad Yousaf Shani Ghulam Farid Wacław Jarecki Muhammad Yasin Ashraf Enhancing Fruit Retention and Juice Quality in ‘Kinnow’ (<i>Citrus reticulata</i>) Through the Combined Foliar Application of Potassium, Zinc, and Plant Growth Regulators Horticulturae <i>Citrus reticulata</i> fruit quality pre-harvest fruit drop plant growth regulators foliar application |
| title | Enhancing Fruit Retention and Juice Quality in ‘Kinnow’ (<i>Citrus reticulata</i>) Through the Combined Foliar Application of Potassium, Zinc, and Plant Growth Regulators |
| title_full | Enhancing Fruit Retention and Juice Quality in ‘Kinnow’ (<i>Citrus reticulata</i>) Through the Combined Foliar Application of Potassium, Zinc, and Plant Growth Regulators |
| title_fullStr | Enhancing Fruit Retention and Juice Quality in ‘Kinnow’ (<i>Citrus reticulata</i>) Through the Combined Foliar Application of Potassium, Zinc, and Plant Growth Regulators |
| title_full_unstemmed | Enhancing Fruit Retention and Juice Quality in ‘Kinnow’ (<i>Citrus reticulata</i>) Through the Combined Foliar Application of Potassium, Zinc, and Plant Growth Regulators |
| title_short | Enhancing Fruit Retention and Juice Quality in ‘Kinnow’ (<i>Citrus reticulata</i>) Through the Combined Foliar Application of Potassium, Zinc, and Plant Growth Regulators |
| title_sort | enhancing fruit retention and juice quality in kinnow i citrus reticulata i through the combined foliar application of potassium zinc and plant growth regulators |
| topic | <i>Citrus reticulata</i> fruit quality pre-harvest fruit drop plant growth regulators foliar application |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2311-7524/10/12/1245 |
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