Effect of Paclobutrazol on Off-Season Flower Induction in Acid Lime (<i>Citrus aurantifolia</i> Swingle) Landraces under Chitwan Condition

Abstract

The experiment was conducted to assess the effectiveness of paclobutrazol in inducing off-season flowering in two Nepalese and one Indian commercial landraces of acid lime during 2002 to 2003 at Rampur, Chitwan, Nepal. The experiment was laid out in split-plot design with landraces as main plot and dates of application of paclobutrazol as sub plot factors. Fourteen month-old seedlings of landraces planted on 28 May 2001 were soil drenched with paclobutrazol (25%) @ 5 ml per tree at the collar region of the tree on four different dates at 50 days interval beginning from 17 July to 17 December, 2002. Paclobutrazol applied on 17 July was the most effective in inducing early flowering at fourth week of December, which was 70 days ahead of normal flowering date. The subsequent applications on September, October and December also advanced flowering time by 59, 41 and 32 days, respectively. The earlier (July) application of paclobutrazol was superior among the treatments under Chitwan condition to induce and advance early flowering for offseason market. Key words: Cultar, sourlime, germplasm J. Inst. Agric. Anim. Sci. 26:87-92 (2005)