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Kinnow is the trademark of citriculture industry of Pakistan and the most important cultivar which is appreciated due to delicious taste and quality. Kinnow is heavy bearer with variable fruit size which fetch low price in market. Fruit thinning is practiced in tree fruits to obtain grade A fruits and overcome alternate bearing. Therefore, this research was planned during 2017-19 to investigate the effect of fruit thinning on quality and profitability of Kinnow mandarin. Fruit thinning was done manually after June drop using the quadratic frame. Four treatments were applied i.e., control (no thinning), retention of 7, 9, and 11 fruits per frame and each treatment had four replications. The results showed that retention of 9 fruit per frame yielded the best fruit size, quality and profitability. The yield and number of fruits per tree decreased due to the fruit thinning but enhanced the fruit quality like juice percentage (68.6%), TSS (10.9 °Brix), TSS:TA ratio (11.3), ascorbic acid (68.8 mg 100 g-1 FW), antioxidant (94.9% inhibition) and phenolic contents (169.8 mg GAE 100 g-1). The yield calculations showed that grade A (38.6%) and B (36.6%) fruits were the highest in treatment having 9 fruit per frame. Benefit cost ratio depicted that 9 fruit per frame although caused 44.56% fruit thinning yet resulted 25% increase in the total income as compared to the other treatments. Hence, fruit thinning practices in citrus have significant effects on fruit physical and biochemical characters and overall orchard profitability based on fruit grading criterion. Kinnow is the trademark of citriculture industry of Pakistan and the most important cultivar which is appreciated due to delicious taste and quality. Kinnow is heavy bearer with variable fruit size which fetch low price in market. Fruit thinning is practiced in tree fruits to obtain grade A fruits and overcome alternate bearing. Therefore, this research was planned during 2017-19 to investigate the effect of fruit thinning on quality and profitability of Kinnow mandarin. Fruit thinning was done manually after June drop using the quadratic frame. Four treatments were applied i.e., control (no thinning), retention of 7, 9, and 11 fruits per frame and each treatment had four replications. The results showed that retention of 9 fruit per frame yielded the best fruit size, quality and profitability. The yield and number of fruits per tree decreased due to the fruit thinning but enhanced the fruit quality like juice percentage (68.6%), TSS (10.9 °Brix), TSS:TA ratio (11.3), ascorbic acid (68.8 mg 100 g-1 FW), antioxidant (94.9% inhibition) and phenolic contents (169.8 mg GAE 100 g-1). The yield calculations showed that grade A (38.6%) and B (36.6%) fruits were the highest in treatment having 9 fruit per frame. Benefit cost ratio depicted that 9 fruit per frame although caused 44.56% fruit thinning yet resulted 25% increase in the total income as compared to the other treatments. Hence, fruit thinning practices in citrus have significant effects on fruit physical and biochemical characters and overall orchard profitability based on fruit grading criterion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Present experiment was performed at fruit orchard of Horticultural Research Station, Bahawalpur during 2016-18 to explore optimum concentration of urea causing deblossoming and defoliation in summer crop, subsequently improving fruit quality and production in winter crop of guava cv. ‘Surahi’. Five treatment combinations containing different concentrations of urea applications viz 0% (T0 =control), 09% (T1 ), 12% (T2 ), 15% (T3 ) and 18% (T4 ) which were applied twice fortnightly when summer crop attained 50% blooming. Percentages of flower drop, fruit drop, fruit set and defoliation as well as fruit weight, fruit length & diameter, total soluble solids, acidity, total sugars, ascorbic acid and yield per plant were recorded. Significant differences among treatment combinations were recorded in effect on each parameter during both years of study. Results from combined analysis of two-years data indicated that 15% urea spray on summer crop produced the highest yield (64.83 kg/plant), heavier fruit (203 g), bigger fruit size (length 9.3 cm & diameter 7.5cm), higher TSS (15o Brix), total sugars (7.1%) with minimum acidity (0.65%) in winter crop because of higher flower (75.5%) and fruit drop (41.5%), defoliation (25.8%) and less fruit set (17.7%) compared to non-target summer crop. High concentration of urea (18%) ranked 2nd with respect to fruit and yield parameters of winter crop but it led in flower dropping (80%), fruit dropping (46.8%), defoliation of summer crop (33%) and ascorbic acid (164.4 mg/100g pulp). Urea spray @ 15% proved the best for deblossomig and defoliation of summer crop. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Present study was conducted at Horticultural Research Station, Bahawalpur, Pakistan to evaluate eight Ber varieties viz Pak-White, Umran, Anokhi, Sufan, Bahawal-Seedless, Yazman, Aakash and Moon under Cholistan climatic conditions during 2017-19. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with 3 replications (2 plants of each variety planted at plant to plant and row to distance of 25 feet in square system during 2010 and nourished with same cultural practices). Data were recorded on tree height, stem girth, leaf length, leaf width, fruit length, fruit diameter, fruit weight, stone weight, pulp ratio, total soluble solids, vitamin-C and yield per plant. From averages of 3 years, maximum tree height (7.8m), stem girth (1.9m), stone weight (2.3g), Vitamin-C (121mg/100g pulp) and yield were obtained by Pak White variety. Maximum leaf length (9 cm) and fruit diameter (3.7cm) was attained by Yazman variety. Maximum leaf width (6.1cm), pulp ratio (99%) alongwith minimum stone weight (0.1g), total soluble solids (12oBrix), Vitamin-C (98mg/100g pulp) and maximum yield (108kg/plant) were recorded by Bahawal Seedless. Umran had maximum fruit length (5.2cm) and Anokhi led in TSS (19oBrix). All varieties performed well under Cholistan condition and showed potential to be grown on marginal land for better economic return. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]