Gaikwad GB, Malshe KV, Kulkarni MM, Mane AV, Kshirsagar PJ
A field experiment was carried out at the Centre of Excellence for Mango, Dr. Balasaheb Sawant Konkan Krishi Vidyapeeth, Dapoli, Ratnagiri District, Maharashtra, during 2023-24 and 2024-25. The study consisted of a single experiment conducted over two consecutive seasons. It was arranged in a factorial randomized block design involving two factors. Factor A included rejuvenated and non-rejuvenated mango trees, whereas Factor B consisted of seven plant growth regulator treatments. Thus, fourteen treatment combinations were evaluated, with each treatment replicated three times. The plant growth regulators used in the study included salicylic acid, CPPU [N-(2-chloro-4-pyridyl)-N-phenylurea], n-ATCA (N-acetyl-thiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid) and KNO₃ (potassium nitrate). Foliar application of treatment T₆ (P₁C₆), comprising 10% n-ATCA and 0.2% folic acid, at 1 ml/l during 50% flowering, 1.5 ml/l at the marble stage and 2 ml/l at the egg stage on rejuvenated mango trees improved fruit retention to 1.02% and yield to 3.48 t/ha. Treatment T₃ (P₁C₃), involving the application of 1% KNO₃ at the peanut, marble and egg stages of fruit development, also increased fruit retention and produced a yield of 33.16 kg/tree. The highest yield of 34.79 kg/tree was recorded under treatment T₆ (P₁C₆).