Effect of Foliar Spraying with the Growth Inhibitor Paclobutrazol on the Quality of Chandler Strawberry (Fragaria ananassa) under Punjab Subtropics

The field experiment conducted during the Rabi season of 2022 aimed to investigate the impact of foliar spray with the growth retardant paclobutrazol at various timings on the strawberry cultivar Chandler (Fragaria ananassa Duch). The experimental design employed a Randomized Block Design (RBD) with eight treatments, each replicated three times. Paclobutrazol was administered at different intervals, specifically at 110, 115, 120, 125, 130, 135, and 140 days after planting, along with a control group receiving no spray. The results demonstrated a significant influence of Paclobutrazol spray timing on the quality parameters. Among the different treatments with the plant growth retardant, Treatment 4 (PBZ 250 ppm at 125 days after planting) exhibited the highest values for fruit length (31.40 mm), fruit width (25.70 mm), fruit thickness (1.79 mm), fruit weight (12.03 g), Total Soluble Solids (TSS) (9.50°Brix), Firmness (1.92 N) and Titrable Acidity (2.56%) whereas lowest values observed in the control.