QUANTITY AND QUALITY OF CITRUS ON A CITROMELO ROOTSTOCK AS AFFECTED BY DIFFERENT TYPES OF N FERTILIZATION (CHEMICAL AND ORGANIC)

With respect to the important effects of nitrogen (N) on plant growth and fruit production, a five-year experiment was performed to evaluate the effects of different sources of N fertilization including chemical and organic on the quantity and quality of citrus fruit. Using five-year old trees, different types of fertilization including ammonium sulfate, urea coated with sulfur, ammonium nitrate and manure were tested using seven treatments in five replicates from 2002 to 2007. Different plant quantitative and qualitative parameters were determined. The most effective strategy on fruit yield production was the use of urea coated with sulfur and manure with 92.46 kg ha^?1 fruit yield followed by ammonium sulfate and manure (87.06 kg ha^?1) and ammonium sulfate (86.43 kg ha^?1). The combination of mineral and organic fertilization may be the most suitable fertilization strategy for citrus production.     

MODULATION IN YIELD AND JUICE QUALITY CHARACTERISTICS OF CITRUS FRUIT FROM TREES SUPPLIED WITH ZINC AND POTASSIUM FOLIARLY

Citrus, especially K innow (Citrus deliciosa × Citrus nobilis), fruit yield and quality in Pakistan is not competitive with that of other countries which could be mainly attributed to the lack of good nutrient management for citrus orchards. The yield losses in this fruit crop occur mainly due to heavy fruit dropping. Experiments to overcome these problems were conducted at four different sites one each in Faisalabad, Toba Tek Singh, Jhang and Sargodha districts of Punjab, Pakistan. The soil and leaf chemical analysis showed severe deficiency of Zn and our pervious results have shown that soil amendment with potassium (K) at 75 K₂O kg ha^?1 improved the citrus fruit yield and quality at all selected sites. In the present experiments, effect of foliar application of Zn and K alone or in combination was studied on nutrient uptake, fruit yield, fruit dropping and juice quality. The fruit trees were pretreated with a selected K level of sulfate of potash (SOP) or muriate of potash (MOP), i.e., 75 kg K₂O ha^?1 along with recommended nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) doses. Zinc [Zn, 1% zinc sulfate (ZnSO₄) solution], K [1% potassium sulfate (K₂SO₄) solution] and Zn + K (solution containing 0.5% each of ZnSO₄ and K₂SO₄) were sprayed at the onset of spring and flush of leaves or flowers, fruit formation and at color initiation on fruit. Overall, application of Zn, K or Zn + K was effective in improving the nutrient uptake, yield and quality parameters of citrus fruit at all sites. Fruit dropping was also reduced by the foliar spray of Zn, K or Zn + K but the most promising results were recorded with foliar spray containing both Zn and K.     

IMPROVEMENT IN YIELD AND QUALITY OF KINNOW (CITRUS DELICIOSA X CITRUS NOBILIS) BY POTASSIUM FERTILIZATION

Citrus, especially Kinnow, fruit yield and quality in Pakistan is not competitive with other countries, which could be mainly attributed to a lack of good nutrient management for citrus orchards. Many of the soils under these orchards have been reported as deficient in potassium (K). Therefore, work was initiated for improving citrus fruit yield, size, and quality through K nutrition management. Experiments were conducted in four districts of Punjab including Faisalabad, Toba Tek Singh, Jhang, and Sargodha and four rates of potash, i.e., 0, 50, 75 and 100 kg dipotassium oxide (K₂O) ha^?1 were applied using sulfate of potash (SOP) along with recommended rates of phosphorus (P) and nitrogen (N). Soils of all the selected sites were clay loam or sandy clay loam and deficient in K. The leaf analysis also showed that all the selected orchards were deficient in K. Application of K increased the fruit yield and quality but K at100 kg K₂O ha^?1 was more effective in increasing the fruit weight and size, and peel thickness than other K rates in all the selected orchards. Juice volume and percentage significantly increased when K was applied at 75 kg K₂O ha^?1 at all sites. Nutrient uptake like K, P, and N enhanced with the increase in K application rate, however, the highest calcium (Ca)+ magnesium (Mg) was recorded at 50 kg K₂O ha^?1. The results indicated that all rates of K application improved the fruit yield and quality and reduced fruit dropping, however, 75 kg K₂O ha^?1 rate was more effective as juice volume and percentage, total soluble solid (TSS)/acid ratio and nutrient uptake showed significant improvement.     

苹果受精着果机理研究初报

用气相色谱（ＧＣ）测定了ＰＰ３３３，ＧＡ３处理及未处理苹果果实，果台副梢中内源ＧＡ３，ＧＡ４＋７，ＡＢＡ，ＩＡＡ，Ｚ和ＺＲ的含量，用质谱（ＭＳ）测定了＾１５Ｎ的分配运转。结果表明，ＰＰ３３３处理明显地增加主要座果率，抑制果台副梢的增长。而ＧＡ３则具有增大果径和促进果台副梢生长的作用，内源细胞分裂素的含量与苹果能力相吻合，其它激素含量的多少与着果没有是有显相关。多效唑（ＰＰ３３３）处理明显地提高了内     

EFFECTS OF DIFFERENT NITROGEN,PHOSPHORUS, POTASSIUM RATES ON THE QUALITY AND QUANTITY OF CITRUS PLANTS,VARIETY THOMSON NOVEL UNDER RAINFED AND IRRIGATED CONDITIONS

Plants require nutrients including nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) for their growth and production. Although there have been previously extensive research work regarding the effects of NPK on plant growth, data related to the effects of long term application of NPK on the quality and quantity of citrus under rainfed and irrigated conditions are little. Accordingly, such effects were evaluated in this research work using different chemical fertilization factorially combined and on the basis of a completely randomized block design. Using ammonium sulfate (100, 150 and 200 g tree ^{? 1}), triple super phosphate (0, 25, 50, and 75 g tree^?1) and potassium sulfate (0, 50, 100, 150 g tree ^{? 1}) the quantity and quality of citrus fruit, variety Thomson were determined in a 10-year experiment in two different research stations in Ramsar, Iran. NPK fertilization significantly affected the quality and quantity of citrus fruits, indicating the significance of NPK fertilization for citrus production.     

EFFECT OF ORGANIC FERTILIZATION ON FIG LEAF NUTRIENTS AND FRUIT QUALITY

Turkish dried fig (Ficus carica L.) production plays a major role in the world trade due to its volume and quality. The production is generally realized from orchards on steep slopes under rain-fed conditions. Birgi-?rima?z? in Ödemi? has peculiarities in respect to dried fig production. In this region, colluvial soils require additional late-winter irrigation by flooding especially in years because of inadequate winter rainfall. Organic dried fig production has gained importance since mid 1980s. The research work aimed at testing the effect of sheep and cow manure mixtures (at two different ratios: 1:1 and 2:1) on leaf and fruit nutrient contents, vigor, and fruit quality. The results proved that tree vigor and fruit quality were improved with the applied rates of farmyard manure, where as the effect on nutrient content of the leaf was not marked.     

COPPER TOXICITY AND ACCUMULATION IN POTTED SEEDLINGS OF THREE APPLE ROOTSTOCK SPECIES: IMPLICATIONS FOR SAFE FRUIT PRODUCTION ON COPPER-POLLUTED SOILS

A 190-d pot cultivation of three apple rootstock species, Malus hupehensis, M. prunifolia, and M. micromalus, was conducted to investigate tolerance, uptake and accumulation of copper (Cu) in different rootstock species. The calculated soil Cu concentration that reduced plant biomass by 50% decreased in M. hupehensis, M. prunifolia, and M. micromalus. This experiment showed that Cu tolerance of M. hupehensis was superior to the other rootstocks. Copper accumulation proportions in shoots or leaves of M. hupehensis were only 0.7–7.4%, which were the lowest among the three species in both control and Cu treatments, and especially were as low as only 40–50% of those of M. prunifolia. The results indicate that Cu-tolerant low-aboveground-Cu-accumulation rootstocks (i.e., excluder rootstocks) could be a good alternative to produce safe fruits with low Cu concentration on Cu-polluted soils without a complete ban on Cu fungicides.     

EFFECT OF PACLOBUTRAZOL AND PUTRESCINE ON ANTIOXIDANT ENZYMES ACTIVITY AND NUTRIENTS CONTENT IN SALT TOLERANT CITRUS ROOTSTOCK SOUR ORANGE UNDER SODIUM CHLORIDE STRESS

The effects of paclobutrazol (PBZ) and putrescine (Put) on antioxidant enzymes activity, proline contents and nutrients uptake were studied on salt tolerant citrus rootstock sour orange. Six-month-old nucellar seedlings grown in pots and subjected to three levels of PBZ and two levels each of salinity and Put for 90 days. Seedlings treated with PBZ or Put alone or in combination had higher anti-oxidant enzymes activities, accumulation of proline and nutrients contents like potassium (K⁺) and calcium (Ca²⁺) under both saline and non-saline conditions. Further, application of PBZ or Put alone or in combination also reduced the accumulation of both Na⁺ and Cl^? ions in leaves and roots in NaCl stressed seedlings. A combined application of 250 mg L^?1 PBZ and 50 mg L^?1 Put proved to be more effective in improving proline and Ca²⁺ content and restricting accumulation of Na⁺ ions in leaf tissues.     

施钾对扬麦158等小麦品种的养分吸收与生物产量的影响

采用田间试验、室内分析与数理统计相结合的方法研究了不同施钾水平对扬麦158在不同生育期体内的氮（N）、磷（P）、钾（K）含量、吸收量及干物质积累量的影响，还比较了同一施肥水平下，扬麦158等7个品种的养分吸收差异。结果表明，拔节-孕穗阶段是小麦养分吸收和生物产量积累的最快时期。不同生育阶段除含磷量较为稳定外，氮、钾变幅大，因此，在制定施肥方案时，应重视氮、钾的合理配合，以满足小麦“高产、优质、高效”生产的营养需要。     

硫肥对棉花蕾铃脱落及产量的影响

本文就硫素与棉花蕾铃脱落和产量的关系进行了研究。试验结果表明,在传统施肥量330kg N/hm2,60kg P/hm2情况下,棉花蕾铃脱落率达70.3%;在增加氮磷肥施用量并补施硫酸钾情况下,棉花蕾铃脱落率为68.5%,说明硫酸钾有效降低了棉花的蕾铃脱落率。在传统施肥量基础上施用硫磺30.0kg/hm2对棉花的蕾铃脱落没有影响,但是增加了棉花单株结铃数、提高了产量。与不施硫相比,施硫使棉花单株结铃数增加14.7%,产量增加了15.7%。上述结果说明,在新疆高产棉田中使用单质硫肥能够进一步增加棉花产量。     

A NEW STRATEGY TO ENRICH CALCIUM NUTRITION OF FRUIT: SYNERGISTIC EFFECTS OF POSTHARVEST FOLIAR CALCIUM AND BORON SPRAYS

The objective of the study is to investigate the role of calcium (Ca) and boron (B) synergy in higher maintenance of Ca in fruit buds during senescence. To study the hypothesis, an experiment was conducted for two years in two ‘Starking Delicious’ apple (Malus domastica Borkh.) orchards established on seedling rootstocks in Banaz, Usak, Turkey. Treatments composed of postharvest foliar sprays of Ca at rate of 15.13 kg h^?1, B at rate of 2.47 kg h^?1 and their combination (Ca+B) compared with control trees sprayed with water. Fruiting spurs, flower ovaries, young and mature fruits were sampled and analyzed for their Ca, B, potassium (K) and magnesium (Mg) contents. Fruit were stored for six months and quality attributes were studied. Results put forth that Ca+B treatments significantly increase fruit Ca and B concentrations and firmness. The results displayed that postharvest B spray improves Ca nutrition of fruits through synergism of Ca+B on Ca translocation.     

RHIZOSPHERIC EFFECT OF VESICULAR ARBUSCULAR MYCORRHIZAL INOCULATION ON BIOMASS PRODUCTION OF RUTA GRAVEOLENS L.: A POTENTIAL MEDICINAL AND AROMATIC HERB

A bio-inoculation experiment was performed on Ruta graveolens L., known as “Garden Rue” seedlings for the biomass production. Seedlings were inoculated with single and in combined mycorrhizal treatments. All inoculated seedlings showed significant biomass production than control seedlings. The phosphorus (P) content was more in seedlings inoculated with consortium of three native VAM fungi followed by Glomus mosseae, Acaulospora laevis and Gigaspora gigantea alone treatments. The control seedlings had the least P content but root P content was more than shoot P content in all treatments. The biomass of shoot and root was also significantly more in seedlings inoculated with consortium followed by G. mosseae, A. laevis and G. gigantea alone treatment. The control seedlings again had low shoot and root biomass. The Biovolume index (B_i) was also high in all inoculated treatments than non-inoculated control but consortium treatment (7.98) had at par B_i than rest of inoculation treatments. The quality index (Q_i) value was also high in mixed consortium (1.42) and A. laevis treatment (1.42) each respectively than G. mosseae (1.38) and G. gigantea (1.29) treatments. Control seedlings had low value of Q_i (1.27). The present study indicates that G. mosseae, A. laevis, G. gigantea are the best strains of VAM symbionts when mixed together for inoculating the R. graveolens to get higher yield of biomass. A. laevis is also good strain of VAM fungi for the same purpose. The G. gigantea alone proved least effective strain for inoculation purpose in R. graveolens but when mixed together in consortium of native VAM fungi as described above executed good results for enhancing the biomass production.