Abstract

This investigation was carried out at the orchard of Faculty of Agriculture, Assuit University during 2012 and 2013 seasons with the objectives of: study the rules and the effects of some plant growth regulators (PGRs) namely gibberellic acid (GA3), benzyl amino-purine (BA), and naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) on the developmental changes on some physical properties as well as fruit ripening of Abbodi and Abiad Aswan fig fruits during its growth. Twelve trees (4 treatments x 3 replication) of both cvs. were used for this study. The PGRs were sprayed at the end of the first period of fruit growth. The result of this study could be summarized as follows:
- The fruit diameter of untreated fruits (control) significantly and very rapid increased during the first period (6 weeks) followed by slow increase for about 4 weeks (period II) and then it was rapidly increased again at the third period and took 7 weeks until maturity.
- Concerning the effect of the applied growth regulators on the diameter of fig fruits, it was found that, GA3 at 50 ppm and NAA at 25 ppm significantly increased the fruit diameter as compared with BA treatment at 40 ppm and untreated fruits during all developmental stages. While, the treated fruits with the three growth regulators had significantly smaller diameter comparing with untreated one at the maturity stage in both experimental seasons.
- The fruit weight and volume of both cultivars took approximately the same trend as diameter concerning the response of applied growth regulators during both studied seasons.
- GA3 treatment advanced fruit maturity by 4 weeks, on Abiad Aswan and 3 weeks on Abbodi cv. while NAA enhanced fruit maturity of Abiad Aswan cv. by 3 weeks and one week for Abbodi cv. earlier than the control.
Concerning BA treatment, it advanced fruit maturity by 2 weeks for Abiad Aswan cv. and one week for Abbodi cv. during the two experimental season

Keywords

Plant growth regulators; GA3; NAA; BA; Fig; Ficus carica