DefinePK

Abstract

Use of plant growth promoters has become veryeffective in commercial agriculture. Moringa leaf extract(MLE) being a source of cytokinin (zeatin) with growthenhancing properties has played a vital role for enhancingyield potential and fruit quality in various crops. Theresearch trial was envisaged under peculiar climaticconditions of Soon Valley, Khushab, Punjab, Pakistanduring 2018. Research trial was executed on twenty plantsof peach cv. Early Grand with uniform age and stature todetermine the response of MLE spray on fruit quality andresultant yield. Different concentrations of MLE (0, 2, 4 and 6%) were applied during the fruit setting. Plants sprayedwith 2% aqueous solution of MLE exhibited maximum fruitdiameter (7.8 cm), pulp weight (167.77 g), fruit weight (174.7g) and yield per tree (80.40 kg) along with significantreduction in fruit drop (25.20%). However, stone weight wasnoted as a non-significant entity. Biochemically significanteffects were noted for the same treatment regarding TSS(13.69 °Brix), acidity (0.26%), vitamin C (6.02 mg/100g), nonreducing sugars (4.42%), reducing sugars (1.70%) and totalsugars (6.02%). Keeping in view aforementioned results it isconcluded that in order to improve the quality and yieldattributes of peach foliar application of 2% MLE is a pragmaticapproach. © 2020 Department of Agricultural Sciences, AIOU