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EFFECT OF NAPHTHALENE ACETIC ACID ON GROWTH AND POST HARVEST PERFORMANCE OF PLUM

. Mohammad Wasiullah Khan, Abdur Rab and Muhammad Sajid.


Abstract

Naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) is a plant hormone in the auxin family that plays a vital role in many aspects of plant development. Plum fruits are perishable and cannot be stored for long periods. Considering the importance of plums in the economy of Pakistan and problems related to the low yield and storage duration, this experiment was conducted.The experiment was carried out in RCBD with three factors replicated three times. The effect of all experimental treatments was found significant for all studied growth attributes. NAA at the rate of 75 ppm increased chlorophyll content (0.0316 mg cm‑2), leaf protein content (6.55 %), total number of fruits plant-1 (937). Among application stages, NAA sprayed 15 days after fruit set increased chlorophyll content (0.0295 mg cm‑2), leaf protein content (6.69 %), total number of fruits plant-1 (934). NAA application stages were found non-significant for fruit weight. The analyzed result showed that the attributes studied for storage duration of plum fruit was significantly affected by NAA concentration less non-reducing Sugars(3.75%), while higher reducing Sugars(2.33%) and total flavonoid (4.77mg 100g-1) were recorded with fruit plant sprayed with 75 ppm. The result for various NAA application stages indicated that less Non-reducing Sugars(3.87%), Reducing Sugars(2.33%) and total flavonoid (4.77 mg 100g-1) were recorded when NAA applied 15 days after fruit set. Storage duration means showed that freshly harvested plum fruit showed the highest non-reducing Sugars(4.37%)While lowest reducing Sugars(1.57%) respectively. The means for storage durations showed that the lowest non-reducing Sugars(3.85%) and total flavonoid (3.02 mg 100g-1) plum fruit examined at 75 days of storage. While high total flavonoid (5.33 mg 100g-1) was found fruit stored for 45 days. Foliar application of NAA 15 days after fruit set at 75 ppm could improve better yield and prolong shelflife of plum up to 45 days under low temperature (10±2 ºCand RH 80-90%).

 

Keywords:Naphthalene acetic acid (NAA),chlorophyll,leaf protein, flavonoids, Storage

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