Effect of plant bio-regulators and nutrients on fruit set, yield and quality of pear cv. Le Conte

摘要

There exists a great scope for extension of area under semi-soft pears in plains of northern India. Despite good eating quality and high returns, the growers are hesitant to plant semi-soft pears because of their shy bearing habit. This habit may bedue to one or more factors like defective flowers, dichogamy, poor pollen germinability, impotence, ovule abortion etc. However, the most important reasons for low yield in Le Conte pear are self-incompatibility, excessive flower abscission and low fruit retention. Since there is no other commercial pear variety whose flowering time synchronizes exactly with Le Conte, hence, for improving the fruit set and reducing flower and pistal abscission with the use of plant bioregulators (PBRs) and nutrients can provide a good alternative for successful semi-soft pear industry of northern plains. Apart from genie regulation, the PBRs play an important role in fruit growth and development. Some of the PBRs and biochemicals are synthesized endogenously, but occasionally, they are needed to be supplemented exogenously for additional stimulus and to counteract the effects of inhibitory factors for the intended purpose of increased fruit set, yield and quality (Goldwin, 3; Tromp and Wertheim, 11).