Effect of exogenous CPPU, proline, or potassium on late yield and fruit quality of fig (Ficus carica L.) trees

Abstract

: This research aimed to examine the impacts of foliar application of CPPU at a rate of 20, 40, or 60 µM, K at a rate of 5, 10, or 15 mM, or proline at a rate of 2, 4, or 6 mM on growth, late fruit yield, and fruit quality of fig trees under adverse conditions of late season (leaf senescence and low temperature). This research was conducted using 4-and 5-year-old fig trees in the 2019 and 2020 seasons, respectively. The obtained findings explore that all the applied concentrations of CPPU, K, or proline markedly improved growth traits such as average leaf number per branch, leaf area per branch, leaf dry weight, and leaf dry matter content. In addition, the late fig yield (average fruit number per branch and fruit weight) and fruit quality traits (average fruit volume, total soluble sugars, total soluble soils, and titratable acidity) were significantly improved compared to the control. Among all applied treatments, including the control, 40 µM CPPU was the best treatment conferring the best growth, yield, and fruit quality traits. Therefore, the findings of this report recommend the use of 40 µM CPPU for promoting late fruit yield and fruit quality traits of fig trees.