EFFECT OF DIFFERENT LEVELS OF PRUNING AND PLANT GROWTH REGULATORS ON GROWTH, YIELD AND QUALITY OF POMEGRANATE (Punica granatum L.) Cv. BHAGWA

From the results, it can be concluded that plant growth regulator (NAA @ 25 ppm, NAA @ 50 ppm, GA3 @ 25 ppm, GA3 @ 50 ppm and water spray) sprays significantly improved the growth parameters i.e. number of shoots emerged per branch shoots length, yield parameters fruits like fruit weight, fruit diameter and weight of 100 arils (g) without impairing fruit quality parameters in hasta bahar crop. Spraying of GA3 @ 50 ppm in combination with pruning at 30 cm recorded significantly high yield and benefit cost ratio followed by NAA @ 50 ppm in combination with pruning at 30 cm. In Control + water spray, fruit diameter, weight of 100 arils (g) and weight of the fruits were significantly lesser than the NAA @ 25 ppm, NAA @ 50 ppm, GA3 @ 25 ppm, and GA3 @ 50 ppm. Hence, the control fruits could not fetch better marketable price when compared to NAA @ 25 ppm, NAA @ 50 ppm, GA3 @ 25 ppm, and GA3 @ 50 ppm. To conclude GA3 @ 50 ppm in combination with pruning at 30 cm followed by NAA @ 50 ppm and GA3 @ 25 ppm in combination with pruning at 30 cm be recommended for hasta bahar crop in Telangana state.