Sustainable approach to optimize flowering and yield in acid lime (Citrus aurantiifolia Cv. Balaji) using pre-harvest elicitors
Article Main
Abstract
Acid lime cultivation faces seasonal yield fluctuations with alternating peak and lean periods. Growth regulators enhance fruit set by promoting ovary growth and reducing abscission. Their application during full bloom improves fruit set and overall productivity. The present investigation was carried out to evaluate the role of pre-harvest elicitors in enhancing the flowering and yield of Acid Lime (Citrus aurantiifolia) Cv. Balaji. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Block Design (RBD) with eleven treatments and three replications viz., T1 - 25mM of Glycine betaine, T2 - 50mM of Glycine betaine, T3 - 75mM of Glycine betaine, T4–0.2 per cent of Potassium silicate, T5 - 0.4 per cent of Potassium silicate, T6 - 0.6 per cent of Potassium silicate, T7 - 50 ppm of Salicylic acid, T8 - 100 ppm of Salicylic acid, T9 - 150 ppm of Salicylic acid, T10 - Water, T11 – Control (No Spray). Trees treated with 0.4% potassium silicate showed the lowest number of days to first bud emergence (26.56) and 50% flowering (36.82), total flowers per shoot (22.69), staminate flowers per shoot (6.95), and hermaphrodite flowers per shoot (16.05). This treatment also resulted in the best yield-related traits, recording the highest fruit set percentage (55.62), the minimum days from flowering to harvest (140), the greatest number of fruits per tree (125.44), fruit weight (82.35g), and yield per tree (10.33 kg). Therefore, application of 0.4% potassium silicate is recommended to induce greater flowering and achieve higher yield during the lean season.
Article Details
Article Details
Keywords
Acid lime, Balaji, Chemical elicitors, Flowering, Yield
References
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de Souza Junior, J. P., Costa, M. G., Campos, C. N. S. & Flores, R. A. (2024). Silicon stimulates flowering and improves crop quality. Silicon advances for sustainable agriculture and human health: Increased Nutrition and Disease Prevention, 311-323.
El Kholy, M. F., Mahmoud, A. A. & Mehaisen, S. M. A. (2018). Impact of potassium silicate sprays on fruiting, fruit quality and fruit storability of Loquat trees. Middle East J. Agric. Res., 7(1), 139-153.
El-Sayed, S. F., Hassan, H. A., Ali, A. M. & Gibrael, A. A. (2022). Effect of foliar-applied potassium silicate on growth, yield, fruit quality and antioxidant activity of tomato plants grown under deficit irrigation. International Journal of Health Sciences, 6(S6), 10012-10032. https://doi.org/10.53730/ijhs.v6nS6.12569.
Gawad, N. M. A. (2017). Effect of some treatments for overcoming frost injury and improving productivity also fruit quality of mango (mangifera indica l.) cv” hindi khasa”. Sciences, 7(02), 373-384.
González-Villagra, J., Chicahual, C., Jorquera-Fontena, E., Falquetto-Gomes, P., Nunes-Nesi, A. & Reyes-Díaz, M. (2024). Salicylic acid improves yield, fruit quality, and post-harvest storage in sweet cherry (Prunus avium L.) cv. Lapins subjected to late-deficit irrigation. Horticulturae, 10(7), 707. https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae10070707.
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Jaishankar, H. P., Kukanoor, L., Jholgiker, P., Hipparagi, K., Gorabal, K., Nishani, S. & Karadiguddi, M. (2018). Influence of pre-harvest sprays on physical and physiological parameters of custard apple cv. Balanagar. International Journal of Chemical Studies, 6(5), 297-301.
Lalithya, K. A., Hipparagi, K. & Thippeshappa, G. N. (2013). Effect of silicon and micronutrients on growth and yield attributes of sapota cv. Kalipatti under hill zone. Crop Research, 46(1to3), 146-149.
Maheswari, K. U., Prathap, B., Latha, P. M. & TPI. (2023). Flowering pattern and fruiting behaviour in acid lime (Citrus aurantifolia Swingle). In The Pharma Innovation Journal,12–12, 4, pp. 2733–2735.
Mangali Mounika, D. T., Kumar, A. K. & Joshi, V. (2021). Studies on the effect of foliar application of calcium, potassium and silicon on yield of sweet orange (Citrus sinensis L.) cv. Sathgudi. IJCS, 9(1), 2371-2373. http://dx.doi.org/10.22271/chemi.2021.v9.i1ag.11583.
Mostofa, M. G., Rahman, M. M., Ansary, M. M. U., Keya, S. S., Abdelrahman, M., Miah, M. G. & Phan Tran, L. S. (2021). Silicon in mitigation of abiotic stress-induced oxidative damage in plants. Critical Reviews in Biotechnology, 41(6), 918-934. https://doi.org/10.1080/0738855 1.2021.1892582.
Palak, K., Patel, B. N., Bhanderi, D. R. & Dharmishtha, P. (2020). Effect of foliar spray of silicon and boron on fruiting and yield of rejuvenated mango (Mangifera indica L.) cv. Sonpari. IJCS, 8(4), 1421-1425.
Panchal, R. K., Patil, S. J., Chawla, S. L., Tandel, B. M. & Gaikwad, S. S. (2020). Effect of foliar application of silicon on leaf nutrient content and flowering of banana (Musa paradisiaca L.) cv. Grand Nain. International Journal of Chemical Studies, 8, 2163-2164. https://doi.org/10.22271/chemi.2020.v8.i6ae.11093.
Panse, V. G. & P. V. Sukhatme. 1985. Statistical methods for agriculture workers, ICAR, Publ. New Delhi, 4th Edn
Pratima Bagale, Arjun Kumar Shrestha, Pradip Regmi & Dikshya Subedi. 2024. Flowering behavior and bahar regulation in acid Lime. Agriculture Extension in Developing Countries.2(1): 01-04. DOI:http://doi.org/10.26480/aedc.01.2024.01.04.
Ranjan, A., Sinha, R., Bala, M., Pareek, A., Singla-Pareek, S. L. & Singh, A. K. (2021). Silicon-mediated abiotic and biotic stress mitigation in plants: Underlying mechanisms and potential for stress resilient agriculture. Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, 163, 15-25. DOI: 10.1016/j.plaphy.2021.03.044.
Rastogi, A., Yadav, S., Hussain, S., Kataria, S., Hajihashemi, S., Kumari, P & Brestic, M. (2021). Does silicon really matter for the photosynthetic machinery in plants. Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, 169, 40-48. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.plaphy.2021.11.004.
Reynolds, O. L., Padula, M. P., Zeng, R. & Gurr, G. M. (2016). Silicon: potential to promote direct and indirect effects on plant defense against arthropod pests in agriculture. Frontiers in Plant Science, 7, 744.
Sathiyanarayanan, V., Prakash, K. & Gopu, B. (2025). Role of pre-harvest elicitors in modifying yield and quality parameters of acid lime cv. Balaji under hasta bahar conditions. International Journal of Plant & Soil Science, 37(8), 362-372.
Shubhangi Kurhade & Swapnaja Hiray Kurhade. 2022. Effect of amino acids and silicon on flowering and yield of pomegranate cv. Phule bhagwa super. International Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Sciences 11(1):224-232. http://dx.doi.org/10.20546/ijcmas.2022.1101.027.
Srividhya, S. & R.R. Kennedy. 2019. The effect of foliar spray of chemicals on off season flowering, fruit setting and yield of fruits of mango variety bangalora. Int. J. Agri. Sci., 11(9): 8351-8353.
Thakral, V., Raturi, G., Sudhakaran, S., Mandlik, R., Sharma, Y., Shivaraj, S. M., ... & Deshmukh, R. (2024). Silicon, a quasi-essential element: Availability in soil, fertilizer regime, optimum dosage, and uptake in plants. Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, 208, 108459. DOI: 10.1016/j.plaphy.2024.108459.
Thakre, N. S., Patil, S. R., Gedam, A. P., Bavankar, A. G., Gharat, P. J. & Temak, S. D. (2024). Influence of nano urea on yield and quality of acid lime in hasta bahar. International Journal of Advanced Biochemistry Research, 8(10), 737–741. https://doi.org/10.33545/261746 93.2024.v8.i10j.2592.
Valizadehkaji, B. & Mohammaei, M. (2025). Foliar application of biostimulants and potassium silicate enhances yield and fruit quality of mandarin Cv.‘Page’. Applied Fruit Science, 67(1), 8. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10341-024-01242-1.
Vijayan, A., Sriramachandrasekharan, M. V., Manivannan, R. & Shakila, A. (2021). Effect of silicon through potassium silicate on yield, nutrient uptake and quality of Grand Naine Banana. Asian J. Agric. Food Sci., 9(3), 91-98.
Wang, M., Wang, R., Mur, L. A. J., Ruan, J., Shen, Q. & Guo, S. (2021). Functions of silicon in plant drought stress responses. Horticulture Research, 8. 254. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41438-021-00681-1.
Abd El-Rhman I.E., M. Samir Diab & A.F. Sahar. 2020. Effect of reflective particles spraying on productivity and quality of “Anna” apple Malus domestica. Middle East J. Agric. Res., 9(4): 871-879. DOI: 10.36632/mejar/2020.9.4.68.
ADAK, N. (2019). Effects of glycine betaine concentrations on the agronomic characteristics of strawberry grown under deficit irrigation conditions. Applied Ecology & Environmental Research, 17(2). DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.15666/aeer /1702_37533 767.
de Souza Junior, J. P., Costa, M. G., Campos, C. N. S. & Flores, R. A. (2024). Silicon stimulates flowering and improves crop quality. Silicon advances for sustainable agriculture and human health: Increased Nutrition and Disease Prevention, 311-323.
El Kholy, M. F., Mahmoud, A. A. & Mehaisen, S. M. A. (2018). Impact of potassium silicate sprays on fruiting, fruit quality and fruit storability of Loquat trees. Middle East J. Agric. Res., 7(1), 139-153.
El-Sayed, S. F., Hassan, H. A., Ali, A. M. & Gibrael, A. A. (2022). Effect of foliar-applied potassium silicate on growth, yield, fruit quality and antioxidant activity of tomato plants grown under deficit irrigation. International Journal of Health Sciences, 6(S6), 10012-10032. https://doi.org/10.53730/ijhs.v6nS6.12569.
Gawad, N. M. A. (2017). Effect of some treatments for overcoming frost injury and improving productivity also fruit quality of mango (mangifera indica l.) cv” hindi khasa”. Sciences, 7(02), 373-384.
González-Villagra, J., Chicahual, C., Jorquera-Fontena, E., Falquetto-Gomes, P., Nunes-Nesi, A. & Reyes-Díaz, M. (2024). Salicylic acid improves yield, fruit quality, and post-harvest storage in sweet cherry (Prunus avium L.) cv. Lapins subjected to late-deficit irrigation. Horticulturae, 10(7), 707. https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae10070707.
IPGRI (International Plant Genetic Resource Institute, Rome, Italy). (1999). Descriptors of Citrus. International Plant Genetic Resource Institute, Rome, Italy. (available from http:/www.cgiar.org/ipgri/).
Jaishankar, H. P., Kukanoor, L., Jholgiker, P., Hipparagi, K., Gorabal, K., Nishani, S. & Karadiguddi, M. (2018). Influence of pre-harvest sprays on physical and physiological parameters of custard apple cv. Balanagar. International Journal of Chemical Studies, 6(5), 297-301.
Lalithya, K. A., Hipparagi, K. & Thippeshappa, G. N. (2013). Effect of silicon and micronutrients on growth and yield attributes of sapota cv. Kalipatti under hill zone. Crop Research, 46(1to3), 146-149.
Maheswari, K. U., Prathap, B., Latha, P. M. & TPI. (2023). Flowering pattern and fruiting behaviour in acid lime (Citrus aurantifolia Swingle). In The Pharma Innovation Journal,12–12, 4, pp. 2733–2735.
Mangali Mounika, D. T., Kumar, A. K. & Joshi, V. (2021). Studies on the effect of foliar application of calcium, potassium and silicon on yield of sweet orange (Citrus sinensis L.) cv. Sathgudi. IJCS, 9(1), 2371-2373. http://dx.doi.org/10.22271/chemi.2021.v9.i1ag.11583.
Mostofa, M. G., Rahman, M. M., Ansary, M. M. U., Keya, S. S., Abdelrahman, M., Miah, M. G. & Phan Tran, L. S. (2021). Silicon in mitigation of abiotic stress-induced oxidative damage in plants. Critical Reviews in Biotechnology, 41(6), 918-934. https://doi.org/10.1080/0738855 1.2021.1892582.
Palak, K., Patel, B. N., Bhanderi, D. R. & Dharmishtha, P. (2020). Effect of foliar spray of silicon and boron on fruiting and yield of rejuvenated mango (Mangifera indica L.) cv. Sonpari. IJCS, 8(4), 1421-1425.
Panchal, R. K., Patil, S. J., Chawla, S. L., Tandel, B. M. & Gaikwad, S. S. (2020). Effect of foliar application of silicon on leaf nutrient content and flowering of banana (Musa paradisiaca L.) cv. Grand Nain. International Journal of Chemical Studies, 8, 2163-2164. https://doi.org/10.22271/chemi.2020.v8.i6ae.11093.
Panse, V. G. & P. V. Sukhatme. 1985. Statistical methods for agriculture workers, ICAR, Publ. New Delhi, 4th Edn
Pratima Bagale, Arjun Kumar Shrestha, Pradip Regmi & Dikshya Subedi. 2024. Flowering behavior and bahar regulation in acid Lime. Agriculture Extension in Developing Countries.2(1): 01-04. DOI:http://doi.org/10.26480/aedc.01.2024.01.04.
Ranjan, A., Sinha, R., Bala, M., Pareek, A., Singla-Pareek, S. L. & Singh, A. K. (2021). Silicon-mediated abiotic and biotic stress mitigation in plants: Underlying mechanisms and potential for stress resilient agriculture. Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, 163, 15-25. DOI: 10.1016/j.plaphy.2021.03.044.
Rastogi, A., Yadav, S., Hussain, S., Kataria, S., Hajihashemi, S., Kumari, P & Brestic, M. (2021). Does silicon really matter for the photosynthetic machinery in plants. Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, 169, 40-48. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.plaphy.2021.11.004.
Reynolds, O. L., Padula, M. P., Zeng, R. & Gurr, G. M. (2016). Silicon: potential to promote direct and indirect effects on plant defense against arthropod pests in agriculture. Frontiers in Plant Science, 7, 744.
Sathiyanarayanan, V., Prakash, K. & Gopu, B. (2025). Role of pre-harvest elicitors in modifying yield and quality parameters of acid lime cv. Balaji under hasta bahar conditions. International Journal of Plant & Soil Science, 37(8), 362-372.
Shubhangi Kurhade & Swapnaja Hiray Kurhade. 2022. Effect of amino acids and silicon on flowering and yield of pomegranate cv. Phule bhagwa super. International Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Sciences 11(1):224-232. http://dx.doi.org/10.20546/ijcmas.2022.1101.027.
Srividhya, S. & R.R. Kennedy. 2019. The effect of foliar spray of chemicals on off season flowering, fruit setting and yield of fruits of mango variety bangalora. Int. J. Agri. Sci., 11(9): 8351-8353.
Thakral, V., Raturi, G., Sudhakaran, S., Mandlik, R., Sharma, Y., Shivaraj, S. M., ... & Deshmukh, R. (2024). Silicon, a quasi-essential element: Availability in soil, fertilizer regime, optimum dosage, and uptake in plants. Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, 208, 108459. DOI: 10.1016/j.plaphy.2024.108459.
Thakre, N. S., Patil, S. R., Gedam, A. P., Bavankar, A. G., Gharat, P. J. & Temak, S. D. (2024). Influence of nano urea on yield and quality of acid lime in hasta bahar. International Journal of Advanced Biochemistry Research, 8(10), 737–741. https://doi.org/10.33545/261746 93.2024.v8.i10j.2592.
Valizadehkaji, B. & Mohammaei, M. (2025). Foliar application of biostimulants and potassium silicate enhances yield and fruit quality of mandarin Cv.‘Page’. Applied Fruit Science, 67(1), 8. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10341-024-01242-1.
Vijayan, A., Sriramachandrasekharan, M. V., Manivannan, R. & Shakila, A. (2021). Effect of silicon through potassium silicate on yield, nutrient uptake and quality of Grand Naine Banana. Asian J. Agric. Food Sci., 9(3), 91-98.
Wang, M., Wang, R., Mur, L. A. J., Ruan, J., Shen, Q. & Guo, S. (2021). Functions of silicon in plant drought stress responses. Horticulture Research, 8. 254. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41438-021-00681-1.
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Sustainable approach to optimize flowering and yield in acid lime (Citrus aurantiifolia Cv. Balaji) using pre-harvest elicitors. (2025). Journal of Applied and Natural Science, 17(4), 1825-1829. https://doi.org/10.31018/jans.v17i4.6909
