Foliar Application of Gebbrillic and Salicylic Acids Improves Fruit Quality and Yield and Reduces Aphid Population in Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.)

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Horticulture Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Sohag University, Sohag, Egypt.

2 Plant Protection Dep., Faculty of Agriculture, Sohag University, Sohag, Egypt.

Abstract

Pomegranate crop suffers many problems during tree growth and fruit production stages. The pomegranate ramp, Aphis punicae (Passerini) is serious pests that attack pomegranate in Egypt. This study was carried out to examine the influence of ascorbic acid (ASA), gibbrellic acid (GA3) and salicylic acid (SA) on yield and fruit quality and aphid population in pomegranate. The application rates were (250, 500 and 1000 ppm) for ASA, 250, 500 and 1000 ppm for GA and 200, 400 and 600 ppm for SA thrice during the growing season. The foliar application of GA3 and SA improved yield (kg/tree), fruit weight (g) , fruit number/tree, fruit cracking, TSS, acidity %, TSS/acid % ratio , and reduced aphid population.

Keywords