Effect of some growth Bioregulators on controlling of suckers, fruit characteristics and yield of fig and pomegranate trees

Abstract

Two concentrations of each of Naphthaleneacetic Acid (NAA) at 10,000 and 20,000 ppm, Paclobutrazol (PPm) at 500 and i,ooo ppm and Mefluidide (MP) at 1,000 and 2,000 ppm were applied to mature fig cv. Al-madina and pomegranate trees cv. Al-madina. Hand cutting of suckers and control treatments were also included. All treatments were carried out after desuckering. The effective control suckers regrowth was achieved on individual cuts in all treatments. Weight, number and mean length of suckers were reduced for the two fruit tree species under application of all concentrations as compared with hand cut and control treatments. The percentages of reduction in regrowth of suckers number and length were high in 20,000 ppm NAA and 1,000 ppm PPm for fig and with 10,000 and 20,000 ppm NAA in pomegranate. No significant differences were found in the mean weight, length and number of suckers between the NAA and aclobutrazol. NAA at 20,000 ppm increased the mean number of fruits as well as yield per tree in fig, while MF at 2,000 ppm decreased them as compared with control and hand cut treatments in pomegranate. Although, application of NAA, PPm and MF were less effective on fruit physical properties in the two species, PPm at 500 or 1,000 ppm increased both TSS % and vitamin C in fig and pomegranate fmits, respectively. NAA increased total sugar percentages in fig fruits and reduced TSS % slightly in pomegranate.