Influence of ‘Cultar’ on fruiting behaviour of ‘L-49’ guava (Psidium guajava L.) plants under different spacing

A study on 4-year ‘L-49’ guava plants was carried out to find out the influence of ‘cultar’ (Paclobutrazol (PP333), [(2RS, 3RS)-1-(4-chlorophenyl)-4,4-dimethyl-2-(1,2,4 triazol-1-yl)pentan-3-ol],a gibberellin inhibitor on growth of plants. Foliar application @ 500 and 1000 ppm were applied consecutively for two years on guava plants at 6x2m, 6x3m, 6x4m and 6x5m spacing. The maximum flowering, fruit setting and retention was recorded in ‘cultar’ treated plants during both rainy and winterseason crops. ‘Cultar'treated plants also exhibited significantly higher per tree fruit number and fruit yield as compared to control plants. The reproductive growth in terms of flower bud density (FBD), fruit set and retention as well as fruit yield of plants at wider spacing of 6x5m and 6x4m was significantly higher compared to the closer spacing levels of 6x2m and 6x3m in both seasons. The plants sprayed with ‘cultar’ @ 500 ppm were better in overall fruiting behaviour.