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Effect of Foliar Application of Growth Regulators and Micronutrients on Fruit Yield Attributes of Acid Lime (Citrus aurantifolia Swingle)

Acid lime (Citrus aurantifolia Swingle) is one of the most important fruit crop of India, is generally known as ‘Nimbu’. It is belongs to the family Rutaceae probably originated in India and then spread to the Middle East and other tropical and subtropical countries (Salunkhe and Desai, 1984). It is mainly cultivated for its multi fold nutritional and medicinal values, which made acid lime more important among the fruits. Its attractive appearance, penetrating aroma of peel and excellent taste gives a remarkable position to acid lime which is grown widely throughout the world (Babu, 2001). The genus Citrus is economically very important and is known for its juice and pulp throughout the world. In India, acid lime is grown in a variety of agroclimates comprising from the northern plains and central highlands having hot semi-arid eco-region with black and red soils. There is difficulty in fruit set because of incomplete pollination, hence plant growth regulators and micronutrients may be effectively used to increase fruit set as well increase fruit yield.


Introduction
Acid lime (Citrus aurantifolia Swingle) is one of the most important fruit crop of India, is generally known as 'Nimbu'. It is belongs to the family Rutaceae probably originated in India and then spread to the Middle East and other tropical and subtropical countries (Salunkhe and Desai, 1984). It is mainly cultivated for its multi -fold nutritional and medicinal values, which made acid lime more important among the fruits. Its attractive appearance, penetrating aroma of peel and excellent taste gives a remarkable position to acid lime which is grown widely throughout the world (Babu, 2001). The genus Citrus is economically very important and is known for its juice and pulp throughout the world. In India, acid lime is grown in a variety of agroclimates comprising from the northern plains and central highlands having hot semi-arid eco-region with black and red soils. There is difficulty in fruit set because of incomplete pollination, hence plant growth regulators and micronutrients may be effectively used to increase fruit set as well increase fruit yield.
Nutritional deficiencies are closely associated with the poor plant growth and fruit set, heavy fruit drop, inferior quality of produce and also make the tree vulnerable to diseases, pests and other disorders. Nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus and potash play a vital role in promoting the plant vigour and productivity, whereas micronutrients like zinc, boron, copper and Magnesium perform a specific role  (RBD). Seventy four uniform healthy acid lime trees, planted at 6 x 6 m distance were selected under the present study. The experiment consisted of 24 treatment combinations out of six the combination of growth regulators and micronutrients with control and four acid lime varieties. In this manuscript various yield parameters such as number of fruits per tree, fruits yield per tree and fruits yield per hectare have discussed here in respect of foliar application of growth regulators and micronutrients on acid lime varieties.
in the growth and development of plant, quality produce and uptake of major nutrients. On the other hand, plant growth regulators refer to organic compounds other than nutrients which in small quantities promote, inhibit or otherwise modify any plant physiological process. Plant hormones refer to bio-regulators produced by the plant which usually move within the plant from the site of production to the site of action and regulate plant physiological process at very low concentration. Plant growth substances have key role in different physiological processes related to growth and development of crops. It is obvious that changes in the level of endogenous hormones due to biotic and abiotic stress alter the crop growth and any sort of manipulation including exogenous application of growth substances would help for yield improvement or at least sustenance of the crop.

Materials and Methods
Eight year old bearing Acid lime trees of uniform vigour and size were selected for the present study. The experiment consisted of 24 treatment combinations out of six the combination of growth regulators and micronutrients and four acid lime varieties.

Treatment details Factor A -Growth regulators and micronutrients (5 + 1 control)
To test the significance of variation in the data obtained from various characters. The technique of analysis of variance was adopted as suggested by Fisher (1950) for randomized block design.

Number of fruits per tree
The data concerning the number of fruits per tree are shown in (Table 1) second year and pooled data. All the varieties were found insignificant to each other.

Yield per tree
An assessment of data presented in Table 2   Yield parameters and yield viz., number of fruits per tree, yield per tree and yield per hectare were significantly increased by different varieties. B 4 (Sai Sarbati) recorded highest number of fruits per tree, yield per tree as well as yield per hectare followed by B 3 (Pramalini) and B 1 (Kagzi lime) while the minimum values were observed with B 2 (Vikram).
Present investigation revealed that various yield parameters like number of fruits per tree, yield per tree and yield per hectare were significantly increased by application of different PGR and micronutrients. Higher number of fruits per trees was recorded in A 5 (GAз 50 ppm + Cycocel 2000 ppm+ KNOз @ 0.2% +ZnSO 4 @ 0.3% + Boron @ 0.1%) followed by A 4 (GAз 50 ppm + Cycocel 1000 ppm+ KNOз @ 0.2% +ZnSO 4 @ 0.3% + Boron @ 0.1%) and A 3 (GAз 50 ppm + KNOз @ 0.2% +ZnSO 4 @ 0.3% + Boron @ 0.1%) while the maximum values was found under A 6 (Control). The results are in conformity with findings of Tripathi and Dhakal (2005) and Devi et al., (2011) in acid lime. Go Guey (1990) reported increase in the number of fruits per tree with the application of GAз, Cycocel, KNOз, ZnSO 4 and Boron significantly increases number of fruits per panicle and tree particularly in pruned mango trees. Maximum number of fruits could be due to increase the hormonal activity by pruning and increase number of perfect flowers, flower set, fruit set and retention by cycocel application. Jagtap et al., (2013) who reported significant increase in the number of fruits per tree with the application of GA 3 200 ppm in Kagzi lime. The increase the number of fruits per tree with the application of GAз, Cycocel, KNOз, ZnSO 4 and Boron could be attributed to increase flower set observed with the treatments initially resulting in the more number of fruits per tree.
The results are in accordance with the findings of Mukunda et al., (2014) with spraying GA 3 50 ppm during June + CCC @ 1000 ppm during September + KNO 3 2% during October on acid lime cv. Balaji reported the highest tree yield.
Yield is the culmination of the inter play of several factors like biochemical, physiological and yield parameters. The increase in yield might be due to more fruit set, fruit retention and number of fruits per tree. An increase in fruit yield per tree might be due to more availability of gibberellic acid. Gibberellic acid promotes cell elongation, cell enlargement, increases in number of cells and also helps in increasing fruit volume, diameter and weight ultimately the fruit yield per tree.
The results are in agreement with the findings of Thirugnanavel et al., (2007) in acid lime, Jain et al., (2014) high yield noticed with GA 3 100 ppm in Nagpur mandarin. Narayanlal et al., (2013) who reported the highest yield per plant was found in 50 ppm GA 3 in guava. Debbarma and Hazarika (2016) also reported the GA 3 @ 100 ppm + CCC @ 1000 ppm + KNO 3 1 % increases the yield in acid lime. Combined effect of varieties and PGR and micronutrients had exerted non-significant influence on yield and yield parameters.