EFFECT OF PACLOBUTRAZOL AND BUNCH COVERING ON YIELD AND QUALITY OF BANANA

Abstract

Executive Summary Exogenous application of paclobutrazol plays an important role for increasing yield and quality of fruits. The present experiment aimed to find out the effect of paclobutrazol and bunch covering on yield and quality of banana during the period from July 2022 to May 2023. The experiment was consisted of two factors namely Factor A: Different doses of paclobutrazol i.e. P 0 = No paclobutrazol, P 1 =1 gm/L paclobutrazol, P = 2 gm/L and factor B: bunch covering i.e. T 0 = Control (no polythene), T 1 2 = White polythene, T = Blue polythene. The treatments showed significant effect on the yield as well as qualitative traits of banana bunch. Paclobutrazol sprayed plants performed better than non-paclobutrazol sprayed plants. Bunch covering with white polythene plants produced higher yield, Pulp: Peel, moisture content, total soluble solid, titratable acidity, ascorbic acid content. However, blue polythene showed higher amount of sugar content compared to other treatment. Blue and white polythene had no significant effect on color measurement. In terms of interaction effects, white polythene treated with paclobutrazol (1gm/L) produced the highest bunch weight (24.91 kg), pulp: peel (3.57), fibre percentage (4.20) while no polythene treated with no paclobutrazol produced the lowest bunch weight (16.77 kg), pulp: peel (1.89), fibre percentage (2.60). As a result, bunch spraying with paclobutrazol and covering with white polythene are effective for enhancing banana production and quality. 2