Influence of synthetic derivatives of cytokinin and auxin on yield and quality of rainy season guava (Psidium guajava L.) cv. Shweta

Improving the yield and quality characteristics of guava is the major concern for guava growers during rainy seasons. The aim of the present study is to investigate the effect of synthetic derivatives of cytokinin (CPPU) and auxin (NAA) for enhancing yield and quality of guava. The experiment consists of ten treatments viz.; CPPU 5 ppm, CPPU 10 ppm, CPPU 15 ppm, NAA 20 ppm, NAA 30 ppm, NAA 40 ppm, CPPU 5 ppm + NAA 20 ppm, CPPU 10 ppm + NAA 30 ppm, CPPU 15 ppm + NAA 40 ppm and control (water spray) with three replications in a randomized complete block design. The plants sprayed with CPPU 10 ppm + NAA 30 ppm significantly increased the fruit set (60.13%), fruit retention (60.53%), fruit firmness (118.21 N), fruit weight (205.77 g), fruit length (13.87 cm), fruit diameter (96.58 mm), fruit volume (251.23 ml), fruit yield per plant (31.21 kg plant− 1), and fruit yield per hectare (86.45 q ha− 1), while reducing fruit drop (39.47%) compared to the control. Similarly, the same treatment CPPU 10 ppm + NAA 30 ppm recorded maximum total soluble solids (14.76%), TSS: acid ratio (54.67), pectin (2.10% calcium pectate), vitamin C (287.45 mg/100 g pulp), total sugars (8.08%) and reduced titratable acidity (0.27%) compared to the control. Overall, it can be concluded that plants sprayed with CPPU 10 ppm + NAA 30 ppm showed a significant improvement in the yield and quality of guava, followed by CPPU 10 ppm as compared to the control.