Pulwama, Sept 29: Horticulture experts have advised apple growers to refrain from using plant growth regulators (PGRs) to control normal pre-harvest fruit drop in their orchards.
Many farmers in various areas of South Kashmir have started spraying PGRs in their traditional apple orchards to prevent pre-harvest fruit drop.
This year, apple growers have reported a comparatively higher incidence of pre-harvest fruit drop in their orchards.
Rayis Ahmad, an apple grower from Pulwama, mentioned that this season’s pre-harvest fruit drop is more than 20 percent compared to the previous year’s premature fruit drop. These fruits, locally known as “Giraan,” typically fall from apple trees before harvest and are usually collected to be sold to local hawkers at the rate of four rupees per kilogram.
Pre-harvest fruit drop results in losses for apple growers, and they often spray their orchards with various PGRs, known as “Giraan Dawa,” to mitigate this issue.
However, experts advise apple growers to avoid using PGRs in their orchards to address normal pre-harvest fruit drop.
Mohammad Shafi Dar, a district-level subject matter specialist from the Horticulture Department, explained that this year, there was a prolonged dry spell in August and September in Kashmir, leading to lower moisture content in the soil.
This, in turn, affected the absorption and transportation of nutrients by apple trees, resulting in issues with fruit size, quality, and coloration.
Pre-harvest fruit drop is also slightly higher this year compared to the previous year.Shafi Dar emphasized that PGRs should be avoided for normal pre-harvest fruit drop due to their various side effects. He noted that SKUAST-K (Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology-Kashmir) has recommended a specific PGR for apple orchards experiencing excessive pre-harvest fruit drop, which could lead to economic losses for growers.
Dr. Jahangir, Assistant Professor of Fruit Science at SKUAST-K’s Krishi Vigyan Kendra in Malangpora, supported the advice to avoid spraying PGRs.
He pointed out that their application can lead to yellowing in apples, making it difficult to store such fruit for extended periods.
