EFFECT OF 2, 4 D ON FRUIT DROPPING AND BIOCHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF LITCHI CV. Bedana

Abstract

The experiment was carried out in a litchi orchard at Shikhderhat, Dinajpur sadar to investigate the dropping of litchi fruits and biochemical nutrients of ripen fruits during April to June, 2023 to investigate the effect of 2, 4 D on fruit dropping and biochemical properties of litchi cv. Bedana. 2, 4 D was applied twice @ 0, 20, 30 and 40 ppm. Parameters like inflorescence number, fruit retention, fruit crack, weight of fruit, seed and pulp, chemical and biochemical properties like ash, acidity, TSS, fibre, ascorbic acid, total sugar, total phenol content, minerals and fruit yield /tree were monitored. Plant growth regulator (2, 4-D) is known to have a great influence on fruit drop and biochemical properties of litchi. The highest of fruit dropping percentage was found in T0 (38.51) and the lowest percentage value was obtained in T1 (2.00) respectively. The highest number of litchi fruits was obtained by reducing fruit dropping in the plants spraying with 20 ppm 2, 4-D (T1) and the lowest number was found in control (T0). The highest fruit weight value was found in T1 (24.05 g) and the lowest value was found in T0 (17.52 g). Litch fruit cv. Bedana contained the highest 82.68 % moisture in T3 treatment, 0.41 %Ash in T1 and 0.57% fiber in controlled treatment. The highest vitamin C was 25.53 mg 100 g-1 found in control (T0) and the lowest value found in 20 ppm 2, 4-D (T1) was 13.86 mg 100 g-1. The highest total sugar content was 26.76 mg 100 g-1 contained in the fruits collected from the plants spraying with 20 ppm 2, 4-D (T1) and the lowest total sugar was 19.63 mg 100 g-1 found in control (T0). The highest protein content was 1.64 present in the fruits treated with 20 ppm 2, 4-D (T1) and the lowest value present in control 1.15. Therefore, spraying of 20 ppm (T1) 2, 4-D twice might be suitable for reducing fruit dropping and improved biochemical properties of litchi cv. Bedana.