Abstract:
Executive Summary
Exogenous application of paclobutrazol plays an important role for increasing yield and
quality of fruits. The present experiment aimed to find out the effect of paclobutrazol and
bunch covering on yield and quality of banana during the period from July 2022 to May
2023. The experiment was consisted of two factors namely Factor A: Different doses of
paclobutrazol i.e. P
0
= No paclobutrazol, P
1
=1 gm/L paclobutrazol, P
= 2 gm/L and factor B:
bunch covering i.e. T
0
= Control (no polythene), T
1
2
= White polythene, T
= Blue polythene.
The treatments showed significant effect on the yield as well as qualitative traits of banana
bunch. Paclobutrazol sprayed plants performed better than non-paclobutrazol sprayed plants.
Bunch covering with white polythene plants produced higher yield, Pulp: Peel, moisture
content, total soluble solid, titratable acidity, ascorbic acid content. However, blue polythene
showed higher amount of sugar content compared to other treatment. Blue and white
polythene had no significant effect on color measurement. In terms of interaction effects,
white polythene treated with paclobutrazol (1gm/L) produced the highest bunch weight
(24.91 kg), pulp: peel (3.57), fibre percentage (4.20) while no polythene treated with no
paclobutrazol produced the lowest bunch weight (16.77 kg), pulp: peel (1.89), fibre
percentage (2.60). As a result, bunch spraying with paclobutrazol and covering with white
polythene are effective for enhancing banana production and quality.
2
