THE ASIAN JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE

Volume 7 | Issue 2 | December, 2012 | 473-477

Research Paper

Article history :
Received : 11.07.2012 Effect of plant biostimulants on flowering, fruit drop, yield
Revised : 18.10.2012
Accepted : 18.11.2012 and return bloom of pomegranate cv. KANDHARI KABULI

AZIZ RAHMAN ABUBAKAR1, NAIRA ASHRAF AND MOIEZA ASHRAF2

Members of the Research Forum ABSTRACT : In order to study the effect of foliar application of plant biostimulants on flowering,
Associated Authors: flower drop, yield and return bloom of pomegranate cv. Kandhari Kabuli, a field experiment was conducted
1
ATVI, KABUL (AFGANISTAN) in the pomegranate experimental block of the Department of Fruit Science, Dr. Yashwant Singh Parmar
2
P.G. Department of Environmental University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan, Himachal Pradesh. The experiment consisted of
Science, Kashmir University, 19 treatments with three replications. The pomegranate trees cv. Kandhari Kabuli under investigation
KASHMIR (J&K) INDIA were subjected to different concentrations of biostimulants viz. Vipul (TRIA) (5 ml/l, 10 ml/l, 15 ml/l),
Spic cytozyme (1 ml/l, 2 ml/l, 4 ml/l), Homobrassinolides (Godrej Double) (0.5 ml/l, 1 ml/l, 1.5 ml/l),
Author for correspondence : Biozyme Crop Plus (1 ml/l, 2 ml/l, 3 ml/l) and Vipul + Homobrassinolides (0.5 + 5 ml/l, 1 + 5 ml/l, 1.5
NAIRA ASHRAF + 5 ml/l, 5 + 0.5 ml/l, 5 + 1 ml/l, 5 + 1.5 ml/l). The results revealed that the plant biostimulants
Department of Fruit Science, S.K. significantly improved flowering, yield, return bloom and reduced the fruit drop. The highest flowering,
University of Agricultural Sciences
yield/plant and minimum fruit drop was recorded in trees treated with Spic cytozyme (4 ml/l) whereas
and Technology (K), Shalimar,
SRINAGAR (J&K) INDIA the highest return bloom was observed with the application of Vipul (15ml/l).
Email : [email protected]
KEY WORDS : Pomegranate, Flowering, Yield, Return bloom, Biostimulants

HOW TO CITE THIS ARTICLE : Abubakar, Aziz Rahman, Ashraf, Naira and Ashraf, Moieza (2012). Effect of
plant biostimulants on flowering, fruit drop, yield and return bloom of pomegranate cv. KANDHARI KABULI ,
Asian J. Hort., 7(2) : 473-477.

P
omegranate (Punica granatum L.)is a small tree 2011).Vipul is a commercial formulation of triacontanol (TRIA)
cultivated in Iran, Spain, Egypt, Baluchistan, Russia, which is a long chain 30 carbon primary alcohol and occurs in
France, Argentina, Iraq, Afghanistan and India. It also nature as a natural constituent of bee wax and plant waxes.
exists in wild/semi-wild in Syria, Mt. Carmel, Himachal Pradesh Biozyme Crop Plus is a commercial formulation of seaweed
and Jammu and Kashmir (Himalayan ranges of mountains) of extract (Ascophyllum nodosum), enzymes and hydrolyzed
India. Generally, flowering in pomegranate is characterized as proteins whereas, Spic cytozyme contain gibberellic acid,
having both hermaphroditic (bisexual) flowers and functionally auxins, cytokinins, seaweed extract (Ascophyllum nodosum),
male flowers on the same plant, a condition referred to as hydrolysed proteins and trace elements. Godrej Double is a
andromonoecy (Wetzstein et al., 2011). In Himachal Pradesh, commercial formulation having homobrassinolides, belongs
pomegranate is mainly cultivated under rainfed conditions to brassinosteroids group of plant hormones. Brassinosteroids
and flowering occurs in April-May, when high temperature is are relatively new endogenous phytohormones which was
an issue. Application of plant growth regulators can influence first isolated from pollen grains of Brassica napus, participate
the sex expression and distribution of flower types in with other plant hormones in the regulation of numerous
pomegranate. Gibberellic acid induced more male flowers and aspects of plant development, including shoot and root
reduced hermaphrodite flowers, whereas ethrel and maleic growth, vascular differentiation, fertility, and seed germination.
hydrazide induced more hermaphrodite and fewer male flowers. The present study was therefore, carried out to find the
Optimizing cultural conditions may be a means to promote the suitability of these chemicals on the flowering and production
development of greater numbers of bisexual flowers with high of pomegranate.
vigor to obtain maximum fruit set and yield (Wetzstein et al.,

HIND AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH AND TRAINING INSTITUTE

 AZIZ RAHMAN ABUBAKAR, NAIRA ASHRAF AND MOIEZA ASHRAF

RESEARCH METHODS absorption of solution. The observations in respect of

The experiment was conducted in the experimental flowering was taken by selecting four branches of one meter
orchard of the Department of Fruit Science, Dr. Y. S. Parmar length on east, west, south and north sides of the periphery
University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan, Himachal of each tree and the number of flowers were counted and the
Pradesh. The experimental orchard is situated between 310 N results were expressed in percentage. The fruit drop was
latitude and 770 E longitude at an altitude of 1276 m above calculated by counting the number of fruits dropped from
mean sea level. Treatment plots were arranged in a randomized each tree and expressed in percentage. The yield was recorded
complete block design with 3 replications. The experiment at the time of harvest and expressed in terms of kg/plant. The
consisted of 19 treatments with three replications laid out in return bloom was determined by counting the numbers of
Randomized Block Design. The biostimulants applied were flower buds on four branches of one meter length in the current
vipul (5 ml/l, 10 ml/l, 15 ml/l), spic cytozyme (1 ml/l, 2 ml/l, 4 ml/ year and in the previous year and then, return bloom was
l), homobrassinolides (0.5 ml/l, 1 ml/l, 1.5 ml/l), biozyme crop expressed in percentage. The data recorded was analyzed
plus (1 ml/l, 2 ml/l, 3 ml/l), vipul + homobrassinolides (0.5 + 5 using the statistical procedure as described by Gomez and
ml/l, 1 + 5 ml/l, 1.5 + 5 ml/l, 5 + 0.5 ml/l, 5 + 1 ml/l, 5 + 1.5 ml/l) and Gomez (1984).
control (water spray). Seven years old pomegranate trees of
cv. Kandhari Kabuli with uniform vigour and size, planted at a RESEARCH FINDINGS AND DISCUSSION
spacing of 3m x 3m were selected for the study. The The results obtained from the present investigation are
biostimulants were applied 45 days after bud burst and summarized in the following sub heads :
repeated 10 days after fruit set. The solutions of biostimulants
were prepared by dissolving them in water directly and sprayed Flowering and return bloom:
with the help of foot sprayer. Spraying (four liters/tree) was The observations in Table 1 revealed that the
done in a clear and calm day during the morning hours to biostimulants significantly increased the flowering percentage.
obtain better effect till the leaves / twigs were wet and droplets The per cent flowering varied from 64.94 to 78.77 per cent and
of solutions started trickling down. Before spraying, 0.5ml of the maximum flowering (78.77 %) was recorded in treatment T6
wetting agent (Indtron-AE) per litre of solution was added as (spic cytozyme 4ml/l) which was significantly superior to all
surfactant to reduce surface tension and to facilitate the other treatments, followed by treatments T5 (71.57 %), T12

Table 1: Effect of biostimulants on flowering and return bloom of pomegranate cv. KANDHARI KABULI
Treatments Concentration (ml/l) Previous year flowering (%) Flowering (%) Return bloom (%)
T1 Vipul 5 *48.49 (44.13) *67.92 (55.51) **105.21 (2.02)
T2 Vipul 10 54.69 (47.73) 68.32 (55.75) 115.76 (2.06)
T3 Vipul 15 56.14 (48.57) 69.47 (56.46) 129.23 (2.11)
T4 Cytozyme 1 52.23 (46.29) 70.75 (57.26) 106.19 (2.02)
T5 Cytozyme 2 46.12 (42.65) 71.57 (57.78) 109.05 (2.03)
T6 Cytozyme 4 47.22 (43.41) 78.77 (62.57) 111.24 (2.04)
T7 HBRs 0.5 60.92 (51.35) 66.02 (54.35) 105.58 (2.02)
T8 HBRs 1 53.34 (46.93) 66.90 (54.88) 108.01 (2.03)
T9 HBRs 1.5 50.63 (45.36) 68.90 (56.11) 110.13 (2.04)
T10 Biozyme 1 61.34 (51.59) 66.74 (54.78) 107.34 (2.03)
T11 Biozyme 2 56.01 (48.49) 69.21 (56.30) 111.14 (2.04)
T12 Biozyme 3 59.98 (50.81) 70.88 (57.34) 115.40 (2.06)
T13 Vipul+HBRs 0.5 +5 59.04 (50.26) 69.68 (56.59) 112.69 (2.05)
T14 Vipul+HBRs 1 +5 55.81 (48.42) 69.96 (56.77) 114.14 ( 2.05)
T15 Vipul+ HBRs 1.5 +5 53.29 (46.90) 70.32 (56.99) 114.16 (2.05)
T16 Vipul+HBRs 5 +0.5 56.43 (48.73) 68.90 (56.10) 107.93 (2.03)
T17 Vipul+HBRs 5 +1 57.65 (49.42) 69.06 (56.20) 109.42 (2.03)
T18 Vipul+HBRs 5 +1.5 57.29 (49.25) 69.76 (56.64) 111.98 (2.04)
T19 Control Water Spray 61.13 (51.48) 64.94 (53.70) 104.91 (2.02)
C.D. (P=0.05) NS 1.05 1.16
*Figures in parenthesis are arc sine transformed values. NS=Non-significant
**Figures in parenthesis are logarithmic transformed values.

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 EFFECT OF PLANT BIOSTIMULANTS ON FLOWERING, FRUIT DROP, YIELD & RETURN BLOOM OF POMEGRANATE

(70.88 %) and T4 (70.75 %). Spic cytozyme is known to have (Fujioka, 1997). This in turn, may have resulted in increased
the activity of cytokinins and auxins which retard abscission retention of flower buds thereby, increasing the return bloom.
(Taiz and Zeiger, 2006). Cytokinins and auxins are also known The minimum return bloom was observed in treatment T19
to stimulate flower bud initiation (Wetzstein et al., 2011) hence, (104.91%) which was statistically similar with T1 (105.21%)
the increase in flowering with the application of spic cytozyme and T7 (105.58%).
may be due to enhanced photosynthesis which increased the
potential of trees to develop more flower buds in subsequent Flower drop:
year. Use of actiwave (seaweed extract) on apple trees reduced All the treatments of biostimulants influenced the flower
the oscillation between the “on” and “off” year and thus drop in comparison to control (Table 2). The minimum flower
moderated the negative effects of biennial bearing (Spinelli et drop (57.23 %) was recorded in treatment T15 (Vipul + HBRs
al., 2009). The minimum flowering (64.94%) was observed in 1.5 + 5ml/l) which was significantly superior to all other
treatment T19 (control) which was significantly lower than all treatments and was closely followed by treatment T14 (59.00%,
other treatments. The perusal of data further showed that the 41.00 %), respectively. Reduced flower drop may be due to
mean value of per cent flowering obtained from all the delay in abscission (the effect of cytokinins and auxins)
concentrations of spic cytozyme was highest (70.73%). through preservation of loss of pectin material in middle lamella
The data given in Table 1 also revealed the effect of (Kachave and Bhosale, 2007), influenced sex expression
biostimulants on return bloom in pomegranate trees. After the (Chaudhari and Desai, 1993) and promotion of tube growth
application of biostimulants, the return bloom varied from may have lead to better fruit set and thus prevented flower
104.91 to 129.23 per cent. The maximum return bloom (129.23 drop. Reduction in flower drop with vipul application may be
%) was recorded in the trees treated with vipul (15ml/l) and due to the reason that it may have increased carbohydrates
was significantly superior to all other treatments followed by levels and C/N ratio (Sharma, 1990). Moreover, reduced flower
treatment T2 (115.76%) and T12 (115.40%). The mean value of drop due to HBRs is in line with the application of GA3 +
return bloom obtained from all the concentrations of vipul brassinosteroids + BA in Thompson Seedless grapes
was highest (116.73 %). This might be due to the reason that (Warusavitharana et al., 2008). HBRs are known to facilitate
vipul resulted in availability of more metabolites and pollen tube growth (Mussig, 2005), retard abscission, enhance
homobrassinolides (HBRs) that may have reduced the resistance to water, nutrient stress (Fujioka, 1997), enhanced
abscission process and enhanced resistance to water stress photosynthesis and mobilization of metabolites to the flowers

Table 2 : Effect of plant biostimulants on fruit drop and yield of pomegranate cv. KANDHARI KABULI
Treatments Concentration (ml/l) Flower drop (%) Fruit drop (%) Yield (kg/plant)
T1 Vipul 31.77 (34.31) 5 24.67 (4.96) 19.00
T2 Vipul 32.78 (34.93) 10 19.50 (4.41) 19.33
T3 Vipul 34.82 (36.17) 15 17.00 (4.12) 21.33
T4 Cytozyme 34.37 (35.89) 1 22.67 (4.75) 19.00
T5 Cytozyme 34.84 (36.18) 2 17.33 (4.16) 21.00
T6 Cytozyme 38.60 (38.41) 4 15.67 (3.95) 24.33
T7 HBRs 31.03 (33.85) 0.5 26.00 (5.09) 18.00
T8 HBRs 33.24 (35.21) 1 24.67 (4.96) 18.33
T9 HBRs 34.74 (36.11) 1.5 24.50 (4.94) 19.50
T10 Biozyme 34.85 (36.18) 1 23.00 (4.79) 19.00
T11 Biozyme 35.56 (36.61) 2 18.67 (4.32) 21.00
T12 Biozyme 37.67 (37.86) 3 16.33 (4.03) 22.00
T13 Vipul+HBRs 38.67 (38.45) 0.5 +5 22.33 (4.72) 20.83
T14 Vipul+HBRs 41.00 (39.81) 1 +5 21.00 (4.58) 21.53
T15 Vipul+ HBRs 42.77 (40.84) 1.5 +5 19.33 (4.39) 22.00
T16 Vipul+HBRs 32.59 (34.81) 5 +0.5 23.00 (4.79) 19.67
T17 Vipul+HBRs 34.07 (35.71) 5 +1 23.33 (4.82) 20.33
T18 Vipul+HBRs 35.75 (36.72) 5 +1.5 19.50 (4.41) 21.00
T19 Control 27.79 (31.81) Water Spray 26.33 (5.13) 18.00
C.D. (P=0.05) 1.16 2.05 1.46
Figures in parenthesis are square root transformed values

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 AZIZ RAHMAN ABUBAKAR, NAIRA ASHRAF AND MOIEZA ASHRAF

(Bhatia and Kaur, 1997) which resulted in less flower drop. et al. (2005) and Singh (2008) with GA3 and NAA in
Homobrassinolides is the sixth group of growth promoting pomegranate has been observed. The minimum fruit yield
hormones with broad spectrum of physiomorphological (18.00 kg) was observed in treatment T19 (control).
responses that influence the levels of nucleic acids, increase
nitrogen fixation and enhance soluble protein content, Conclusion:
photosynthesis, cell division and cell expansion (Fujioka, From the foregoing discussion, it can be concluded that
1997). The maximum flower drop (72.21 %) was observed in the plant biostimulants significantly improved flowering, yield,
treatment T19 (control) which was significantly lower than all return bloom and reduced the flower drop and fruit drop. The
other treatments. The results further show that the mean value highest flowering, yield/plant and minimum fruit drop was
of flower drop obtained from all the concentrations of vipul + recorded in trees treated with spic cytozyme (4 ml/l) whereas
HBRs was least followed by biozyme crop plus, spic cytozyme, the highest return bloom was observed with the application
vipul and HBRs. of vipul (15ml/l) and the reduced flower drop was recorded
with the application of vipul + homobrassinolides (1.5 + 5 ml/
Fruit drop and yield: l).
The biostimulants significantly reduced the fruit drop
and the fruit drop varied from 15.67 to 26.33 per cent. The REFERENCES
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