Effects of paclobutrazol application on flowering time, fruit maturity and quality of durian clone D24

W.Z. Rushidah and S. Abd. Razak

Abstract

The effect of paclobutrazol application on durian clone D24 was studied at MARDI Research Station in Jerangau, Malaysia. Matured trees, with girth size of 50 cm were soil drenched with 4 g a.i. paclobutrazol. Application of paclobutrazol had significant effect in enhancing the flowering time and flower anthesis of mature trees. However, fruit maturity time, mean fruit weight and incidence of UFR were not significantly affected by the time of paclobutrazol application. A single flowering peak was induced when the chemical was applied 2–3 months before the actual flowering date. Although flower (inflorescence) count was low when the chemical was applied within the period but fruit number was higher compared to other treatments, especially in treatment 2 i.e. 15 weeks before the actual flowering date. Application of paclobutrazol 2 months just before the actual flowering date, produced two flowering peaks, similar to the untreated trees.

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