Articles
Effects of plant growth regulators on flowering and fruit thinning and quality of rambutan
Article number
1186_19
Pages
127 – 134
Language
English
Abstract
This research was conducted with the following objectives: 1) to study plant growth regulators (PGRs) for control of flowering in rambutan, and 2) to increase fruit size of rambutan by fruit thinning.
Two experiments were conducted, from October 2009 to September 2013. Three PGRs, mepiquat chloride 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5%, ethephon 2500 and 5000 ppm, and paclobutrazol 500 and 1000 ppm, were used to control flowering of rambutan in Chanthaburi, Srisaket and Chieng Rai provinces.
The PGRs were applied to the main branches of rambutan trees 2 months before flowering.
The results showed that all PGRs induced flowering of rambutan 4-8 days earlier than controls, and had no effect on flowering percentage, yield or quality.
The maximum rates of the three PGRs were more effective than the lower rates.
For fruit thinning, fruits were thinned 2 months after fruit set.
A randomized complete block design (RCBD) with four replicates and five treatments included thinning to leave 8, 12 or 15 fruits panicle-1 and trimming of 1/3 of the panicle, and a control.
The results showed that thinning to leave 8 fruits panicle-1 gave the heaviest and largest fruit, followed by thinning to leave 12 and 15 fruits panicle-1 and trimming 1/3 of the panicle All were significantly superior to control trees.
In terms of numbers of fruit per kg, thinning to leave 8 fruits panicle-1 gave 25 fruits kg-1, which was classified as size code number 1; three treatments, thinning to 12 or 15 fruits panicle-1 and trimming 1/3 of the panicle, gave 27 fruits kg-1, in size code 2, but the control gave 30 fruits kg-1, in size code 3. With regard to costs and returns, the thinning costs were 0.05-0.067 USD kg-1 and the fruit with size codes 1 and 2 were sold at 1.33-1.67 USD kg-1, while the price of unthinned fruit (size code 3) was 0.26-0.77 USD kg-1. Thinning can increase incomes of growers by approximately 2- to 5-fold.
Integrated technologies should be applied to control flowering of rambutan for harvesting in early season, and fruit thinning is important for exporting to increase fruit size and quality.
This can help farmers to get higher prices and higher incomes.
Two experiments were conducted, from October 2009 to September 2013. Three PGRs, mepiquat chloride 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5%, ethephon 2500 and 5000 ppm, and paclobutrazol 500 and 1000 ppm, were used to control flowering of rambutan in Chanthaburi, Srisaket and Chieng Rai provinces.
The PGRs were applied to the main branches of rambutan trees 2 months before flowering.
The results showed that all PGRs induced flowering of rambutan 4-8 days earlier than controls, and had no effect on flowering percentage, yield or quality.
The maximum rates of the three PGRs were more effective than the lower rates.
For fruit thinning, fruits were thinned 2 months after fruit set.
A randomized complete block design (RCBD) with four replicates and five treatments included thinning to leave 8, 12 or 15 fruits panicle-1 and trimming of 1/3 of the panicle, and a control.
The results showed that thinning to leave 8 fruits panicle-1 gave the heaviest and largest fruit, followed by thinning to leave 12 and 15 fruits panicle-1 and trimming 1/3 of the panicle All were significantly superior to control trees.
In terms of numbers of fruit per kg, thinning to leave 8 fruits panicle-1 gave 25 fruits kg-1, which was classified as size code number 1; three treatments, thinning to 12 or 15 fruits panicle-1 and trimming 1/3 of the panicle, gave 27 fruits kg-1, in size code 2, but the control gave 30 fruits kg-1, in size code 3. With regard to costs and returns, the thinning costs were 0.05-0.067 USD kg-1 and the fruit with size codes 1 and 2 were sold at 1.33-1.67 USD kg-1, while the price of unthinned fruit (size code 3) was 0.26-0.77 USD kg-1. Thinning can increase incomes of growers by approximately 2- to 5-fold.
Integrated technologies should be applied to control flowering of rambutan for harvesting in early season, and fruit thinning is important for exporting to increase fruit size and quality.
This can help farmers to get higher prices and higher incomes.
Authors
T. Sangudom, W. Markumrai, N. Sukhvibul, S. Sukkhet, T. Nimkingrat, S. Chrangpasert
Keywords
plant growth regulators, stimulating flowering, fruit thinning, paclobutrazol
Groups involved
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