Influence of Brassinosteroid-like Substances on the Yield of Red Champagne Finger Lime

Abstract

Brassinosteroids are plant hormones involved in cell division, cell expansion, and plant growth and development. This study investigated the effects of brassinosteroid-like substances on flower number, fruit number, and physical fruit traits of Red Champagne finger lime. The experiment was arranged in a completely randomized design (CRD) with four foliar treatments: 0.00, 0.25, 0.50, and 1.00 ppm, using 8 trees per treatment. The substance was applied three times: two weeks after pruning, at flowering, and at fruit set. Flower number per tree, fruit number per tree, average fruit weight, fruit diameter, and fruit length were recorded. Data were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance, followed by Tukey’s HSD test at the 0.05 significance level. The treatments did not significantly affect flower number or fruit number (P = 0.767 and 0.097, respectively), but significantly affected average fruit weight, fruit diameter, and fruit length (P = 0.0063, P < 0.0001, and P < 0.001, respectively). The 1.00 ppm treatment produced the greatest average fruit weight, fruit diameter, and fruit length, at 9.86 ± 1.13 g per fruit, 18.19 ± 1.75 mm, and 55.01 ± 7.09 mm, respectively. These findings indicate that brassinosteroid-like substances have greater potential to promote fruit growth and physical quality than to increase flower or fruit number under the conditions of this experiment.