Effect of Urea, Some Micronutrients, and Growth Regulator Foliar Sprays on the Yield, Fruit Quality, and Some Vegetative Characters of Washington Navel Orange Trees: Fruit Pedicel Pectin Content, Flowering Aspects, and Fruit Set, and Dropping Percentages

This part of the investigation studied the effect of foliar spraying with urea (0.5%); a mixture of Zn (0.4%), Mn (0.3%), Fe (0.5%), and Cu (0.3%) in sulphates (from 23% Zn, 28% Mn, 19% Fe, and 30% Cu, respectively); and two growth regulators (GA 3 at 25 ppm and α-NAA at 10 ppm); as well as number and date of sprays on fruit pedicel pectin content, some flowering aspects, and fruit set and drop percentages. Applying urea, micronutrients, or both significantly increased pectin content in the pedicels of the attached and dropped fruit. The treatment including urea plus micronutrients resulted in the highest values for pectin in fruit stem. Either GA 3 or NAA significantly raised pectin content over that of the water-sprayed control. However, NAA was more effective in increasing pectin content in fruit pedicel. The overall treatment including urea and micronutrients with GA 3 or NAA was the most effective in producing the highest percentage of leafy inflorescence in 1991–92 and 1992–93 seasons. Any nutrition treatment was significantly effective in increasing fruit set and reducing fruit drop compared with the water-sprayed control; however, the treatment including all sprayed nutrients was the most effective. Application of GA 3 or NAA significantly increased fruit set percentage and reduced June and preharvest fruit drop; however, NAA was more effective in reducing fruit drop than GA 3 .