Tropentag, September 14 - 16, 2010 in Zurich "World Food System – A Contribution from Europe"

Effect of NAA, KNO₃ and Fe on some Characteristics of Leaf and Fruit of Peach (Prunus persica L.) cv. Early Coronet

¹University of Duhok, College of Agriculture, Horticulture Dept., Iraq
²Baghdad University, College of Agriculture, Horticulture Dept., Iraq

Abstract

This study was carried out during 2008 to investigate the effect of three treatments containing deferent concentrations of [Naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) (Riedel- de Haen) purity 98% (0 and 5ppm), KNO₃^- (Merck) ( 36.5% K) 0, 0.1 and 0.2 %, and Fe (NaFeEDDH) Technical Sodium Ferric ethylenediamine dio-hydroxyphenyle acetate (Fe approx. 6%) 0, 30 and 60ppm]. Trees used for this investigation were four years old peach (Prunus persica L) cv. Early coronet, budded on seedling peach rootstocks, trees selected from orchard in Seije 15km north of Duhok city - Duhok Governorate, Kurdistan Region, Iraq, one month after fruit set, at two time (24/April/2008 and 25/May/2008) Trees sprayed till run off with the two concentrations of NAA, three concentrations of KNO₃^-and three concentrations of Fe. Raising the levels of NAA to 5ppm, KNO₃^- to 0.2 % and Fe to 60 ppm led to a significant increase in the value of leaf area, chlorophyll (a), fruit pulp thickness, seed weight, and fruit dry weight compared with untreated trees. NAA, KNO₃^- and Fe sprays caused a significant increase in leaf nutrient contents (P, K, Ca, and Fe) compared with control. On the second of February 2009 foliar spray with 0.1% and 0.2%KNO₃^- caused a significant increase in the percentage of flower bud initiation, whereas; flower bud initiation was not affected by NAA and Fe application. The interaction between Foliar spray of 5ppm NAA 0.2% KNO₃^- 60 ppm Fe significantly increased leaf area, chlorophyll (a), fruit pulp thickness, seed weight and fruit dry weight, also caused significant increase in leaf nutrient contents (P, K, Ca, and Fe).

Keywords: Fe, Fruit, KNO₃^-, NAA, peach, spray treatment

Contact Address: Sarfaraz Al-Bamarny, University of Duhok, College of Agriculture, Horticulture Dept., Malta Nasaara - Ewaara, Duhok, Iraq, e-mail: sarfarazfatahyahoo.com