A field trial was conducted during 2015 and 2016, to study the effect ofgrowth regulators on growth, flowering, yield and fruit quality of strawberry cv. Chandler. The experiment was laid out in completely randomized design with 16 treatments viz.CPPU at 1, 2 and 4 ppm, GA3 at 25, 50 and 75 ppm, Promalin at 2, 4 and 6 ppm, GA4+7 at 5, 10 and15 ppm, NAA at 10, 20 and 30 ppm and control (water spray) and each treatment was replicated thrice. The results revealed that the plants sprayed with 15 ppm GA4+7 two weeks before flowering significantly reported highest plant height (33.43 cm), leaf area (239.70 cm2), number of flowers (31.94), fruit set (87.45 %), number of fruits per plant (29.02), yield (540.01 g/plant), fruit length (53.63 mm) and fruit diameter (37.19 mm) and fruit weight (23.70 g) as compared to control. This treatment resulted in 196.36 % increase in yield and 56.22 %in fruit weight over control. Plants sprayed with 6 ppm promalin also showed significant improvement in vegetative growth, fruit size, yield and fruit quality, which resulted in 137.92 % increase in yield and 51.81 % increase in fruit weight over control. Hence, it is concluded that foliar spray of 15 ppm GA4+7 applied 2 weeks before flowering is beneficial in improving growth, yield and fruit quality of strawberry plants.

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Abstract:The study was conducted in net house conditions of fruit Nursery block of Department of Fruit Science, Dr. Y. S. Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry Nauni, Solan H.P. during 2012-2013 in order to evaluate the effect of size of cuttings (length and diameter) on rooting in cuttings of apple clonal rootstock Merton 793. Cuttings of length (L) viz. 15 cm, 25 cm, 35 cm, 45 cm and diameter ranges (D) viz. 0.75 cm -1.00 cm, 1.00 cm -1.25 cm, 1.25 -1.50 cm were taken. The experiment was laid out in randomized block design (factorial). The cuttings were treated with 2500 ppm IBA (Indole -3 -butyric acid) as quick dip (10 -15 seconds) before planting. The results revealed that the cuttings with treatment combination of length (35 cm) and diameter (1.25 cm -1.50 cm) recorded the highest rooting of cuttings (65 %), number of primary roots (5.00), length of primary roots (28.43 cm), diameter of primary roots (3.25 mm), fresh weight of roots (3.67 g) and dry weight of roots (2.59 g). Hence it is concluded that cuttings of length of 35 cm and diameter of 1.25 cm to 1.50 cm was most suitable for propagation. However, the cuttings of shorter length and diameter, are also able to result in rooting with lower success, therefore, these cuttings would be helpful in case of scarce availability of propagating material.

A trial was conducted in a private orchard at Matiyana (Shimla), India (during December, 2014 to December, 2015) to find out the alternate to calcium ammonium nitrate for nitrogen application to apple trees. Different nitrogen containing fertilizers (sources of nitrogen) alone or in combination were used as treatments and applied in split doses to the experimental trees. Different nitrogen sources significantly influenced fruiting, yield, fruit quality and leaf nutrient contents of apple. Trees subjected to calcium nitrate+urea treatment exhibited significantly higher fruit set (23.96%), yield (5.20 kg tree-1) as well as yield efficiency (0.183 kg cm-2 trunk cross sectional area (TCSA) and lower fruit drop (13.06%). The treatment (calcium nitrate+urea) significantly improved fruit weight (179.67 g), total soluble solids content (13.10 °B), total sugars (9.99%) and reducing sugars content (7.15%). Similarly, significantly higher leaf N (2.86%), K (1.93%) and Mg (0.44%) contents were recorded in trees subjected to calcium nitrate+urea treatment, whereas, leaf P (0.28%) and Ca (1.58%) were observed highest in trees treated with combination of di-ammonium phosphate and calcium nitrate and calcium nitrate, respectively. With respect to various observations recorded, calcium nitrate+urea treatment was either superior or statistically at par with calcium ammonium nitrate (control), thus calcium nitrate+urea was proved to be most suitable alternate to calcium ammonium nitrate for supplying nitrogen to the apple trees.