Effect of Spraying Amino Acids and Micronutrients as Well as their Combination on Growth, Yield, Fruit Quality and Mineral Content of Canino Apricot Trees

This work was conducted during 2016 and 2017 seasons in a private orchard at El-Khatatba region, Minofia Governorate, Egypt to study the effect of some foliar application of amino acids at 0.0, 1, 2 and 3 ml/L and micronutrients mixture  i.e., Fe + Zn + Mn each at 0.0, 50, 100 and 150 ppm as well as their combination on growth, yield, quality and leaf mineral contentof Canino apricot trees. The trees used in this experiment were eight-year-old planted at 4x5m apart and budded on local apricot rootstock, grown in a sandy soil under drip irrigation system and received the common cultural practices. The trees selected to be healthy and uniform in growth and yield as possible. The gained results showed that the longest shoots, the highest number of leaves/shoot and the largest leaf area were obtained from the combination of amino acids at the high rate (3 ml/L), particularly those sprayed with micronutrients at the high level (150 ppm) in the two seasons. The highest fruit set % was scored by the interaction of amino acids at the high rate, especially those received micronutrients foliar spray at the high level in the two seasons. The heaviest fruit and the highest yield/ fed. were noted by the combined treatment between amino acids at 3 ml/L and micronutrients at 150 ppm in the two seasons. The highest values of fruit firmness obtained from the combination of micronutrients at the high level, particularly those received amino acids at the high rate (3 ml/L) in both seasons. 3 ml/L amino acids sprayed plus micronutrients at 150 ppm induced the highest values of fruit T.S.S. %, fruit total sugars % and V.C (mg/ 100ml juice). The highest values of leaf N, P, K, Fe, Zn and Mn contents were obtained by using the mixed treatment between amino acids at 3 ml/L and micronutrients at 150 ppm in both seasons. Conclusively, spraying Canino apricot trees with amino acids at 3 ml/L and received micronutrients at 150  ppm foliar spray induced prospective effects on vegetative growth and fruits yield and quality.