Use Of Plant Growth Regulators In Dry Land Fruit Crops: A Review

Abstract

Ber, pomegranate, custard apple, aonla and date palm are the major fruit crops which are commercially grown in arid regions. Main characteristics of dry land fruit crops are deep rooted and perennial crops, low water requirement crop, thick and small leaves, hardy and tolerant to rigorous monsoon and shed their leaves during summer and put forth flowering and fruiting during rainy season. The use of plant growth regulators has been proved as a powerful tool to meet this demand by influencing fruit production directly or indirectly. The PGR's include auxins, gibberellins, cytokinins, ethylene, growth retardants and growth inhibitors. PGRs are chemical compounds, which can regulate some important metabolic activities in plants. They influence on growth and development of plants, which influence the improve the seed germination by breaking seed dormancy, root initiation in cuttings and air layers, to regulate proper canopy, flowering and fruit set and increase in yield and quality.