Poor uptake of nutrients not only deteriorates the quality but also the yield of horticultural crops. Among various macro and micronutrients, the role of K, Ca and B is very important. Therefore, balanced application and uptake of K and Ca and B can improve the quality and yield of mango trees. So, a field study was conducted with the hypothesis that combined application of K and Ca along with B would be effective to improve yield and quality of Mango cv. Summer Bahisht (SB) Chaunsa. There were two sources of Ca(CaCl2 and Ca(NO3)2) and three sources of K(KNO3, K2SO4 and K-Citrate) combined with boric acid (BA). All Ca and K sources were applied at the rate of 1% while BA was applied at 0.2%. As compared to control, a significant improvement in fruit set panicle-1 (35.7% and 50.0%), fruit retention (125% and 40%), shelf life (73.3% and 36.6%), total soluble solids (35.1% and 40.6%) and fruit yield (52.5% and 49.2%) in 2016 and 2017 respectively, confirmed the effectiveness of KNO3 (1.0%) + BA (0.2%). Between CaCl2 and Ca(NO3)2, application of Ca (NO3)2 was found more efficacious regarding improvement of quality and yield of SB Chaunsa. It is concluded that to improve the quality and yield of Mango cv. SB Chaunsa, KNO3 (1.0%) + BA (0.2%) is the best nutrients combination, and Ca(NO3)2 is a better option as compared to CaCl2.

Carrot (Daucus carota L.) seed quality is affected by umbel position due to uneven maturation of carrot seeds produced in different umbel orders. However, keeping this in view, we tested whether seed quality could be improved with the suppression of tertiary umbels under exogenous auxin application. Using auxin-producing bacterial isolates, i.e., Bacillus sp. MN54, Enterobacter sp. MN17, Pantoea sp. MN34, and Burkholderia phytofirmans PsJN, the arrangements of carrot umbel order were evaluated in terms of quality carrot seed production. The results revealed that auxin production by plant-growth-promoting rhizobacteria showed significant differences among measured growth indices, yield, and seed quality attributes. The selected endophytic strains co-applied with auxin via foliar application improved all growth- and yield-related traits, as well as the enzymatic activities of carrots. Noticeably, MN17+L-tryptophan and MN34+L-tryptophan effectively minimized the number of tertiary umbels by increasing the number of secondary umbels. Furthermore, treating with PsJN+L-tryptophan and MN34+L-tryptophan resulted in reduced conductivity of seed leachates and malondialdehyde levels in primary, secondary, and tertiary umbel seeds. These findings collectively indicate the potential of the foliar application of PsJN+L-tryptophan and MN34+L-tryptophan to effectively alter umbel arrangement, leading to improved yield and seed quality. This study implies that carrot seed producers can consider employing specific PGPB strains, particularly MN34+L-tryptophan, to suppress tertiary umbels and achieve higher yields of high-quality carrot seeds.

Effects of paclobutrazol and ancymidol on postharvest performance and growth control of potted sunflower ( Helianthus annuus L.), zinnia ( Zinnia elegans Jacq.) and marigold ( Tagetes erecta L.), petunia ( Petunia ×hybrida Vilm.) plugs, respectively, were studied. Paclobutrazol was applied as a drench at 0, 1.0, 2.0, or 4.0 mg of a.i. per 15.2-cm pot for sunflower and 0, 0.5, 1.0, or 2.0 mg per 12.5-cm pot for zinnia, while ancymidol was applied at 0, 40, 80, and 160 mg·L ⁻¹ with a volume of 0.21 L·m ⁻² as a foliar spray for marigolds or petunia plug crops. With an increase in paclobutrazol dose or ancymidol concentration, plant growth (plant height and diameter, shoot fresh or dry weight) was controlled for all species tested. Use of 1.0–2.0 mg paclobutrazol per pot produced 21% to 28% shorter plants with 12% to 15% smaller plant diameter, 13% to 19% less shoot fresh weight, 15% to 21% less dry weight, and darker green foliage color for potted sunflower than nontreated plants. Treatment with 1.0–4.0 mg paclobutrazol per pot delayed first wilting by 0.7–1.4 days compared with nontreated plants. For zinnia, 0.5–1.0 mg paclobutrazol controlled plant growth, produced dark green foliage, and extended shelf life by delaying first wilting by 2.6–3.9 days and second wilting by 1.4–2.0 days than nontreated plants. For marigold and petunia plugs, 40–80 mg·L ⁻¹ ancymidol provided ample growth control with darker green foliage; however, postharvest longevity was extended only when plugs were sprayed with 160 mg·L ⁻¹ ancymidol. During simulated storage and shipping, plant growth retardants maintained darker green foliage for potted sunflower, zinnia, and marigold plugs and prevented postharvest stem elongation of petunia plugs. In summary, use of plant growth retardants effectively controlled excessive plant growth and extended shelf life of potted plants and plugs.

Effects of harvest time (morning, noon, or afternoon) on water uptake, fresh weight changes, termination symptoms, leaf relative water content (LRWC), carbohydrate status, and vase life of cut ‘ABC Purple’ lisianthus ( Eustoma grandiflorum Salisb.), ‘Double Eagle’ African Gold Coin Series marigold ( Tagetes erecta L.), and ‘Deep Red’ Benary’s Giant Series zinnia ( Zinnia elegans Jacq.) were studied. For stems of lisianthus harvested and then stored in the dark with the basal ends in water for 2 weeks at 3 ± 1 °C, those harvested at noon (1200 hr to 1300 hr ) or in the afternoon (1700 hr to 1800 hr ) had longer vase life compared with stems harvested in the morning (0700 hr to 0800 hr ). However, stems of lisianthus evaluated without storage had no differences in vase life. Stems of marigold harvested in the afternoon had longer vase life than morning- or noon-harvested stems. Time of harvest had no effect on cut flower longevity of zinnia. However, vase life was considerably shorter for stems of all species when tested after 2 weeks storage compared with freshly harvested stems. Stems of zinnia harvested at noon had lower LRWC than morning- or afternoon-harvested stems. Marigold stems harvested in the afternoon and evaluated without storage had lowest LRWC on Day 7 of vase life. Harvest time or storage did not influence LRWC of lisianthus. Stems of marigold and lisianthus harvested at noon or in the afternoon had higher levels of carbohydrates compared with morning-harvested stems, whereas freshly harvested stems had higher concentrations of glucose and sucrose, which decreased during storage or the vase period. Sucrose concentrations varied more significantly among various tissues than other sugars presumably as a result of translocation during vase life. In summary, carbohydrate status of stems harvested at different times of the day varied greatly and affected postharvest longevity of cut marigold and lisianthus, but not zinnia.

| A study was conducted to investigate the effects of seed priming (halopriming with 25 mM, 50 mM and 100 mM of calcium chloride (CaCl 2 ), potassium nitrate (KNO 3 ), potassium chloride (KCl) and Hydropriming) on germination and seedling vigor of Gerbera jamesonii and Zinnia elegans . Seeds of Gerbera jamesonii and Zinnia elegans were primed in salt solutions and distilled water for 24 h and 12 h, respectively, and germinated at 25 ± 1 °C with 40-60% R.H. in 16/8 hours day/night conditions. Results revealed that pre-sowing seed treatment particularly halopriming with CaCl 2 was the most effective for invigoration of gerbera and zinnia seeds. For Gerbera jamesonii , 25 mM CaCl 2 and for Zinnia elegans, 50 mM CaCl 2 proved best priming treatments followed by 100 mM KCl and 50 to 100 mM KNO 3 for both tested species. This was interpreted by reduced time to 50% germination (1.2 d for gerbera and 2.4 d for zinnia), higher final germination %age (11% for gerbera and 7% for zinnia), seedling vigor (83% for gerbera and 46% for zinnia), and fresh weight (0.95 g for gerbera and 2.29 g for zinnia) and dry weight (0.3 g for gerbera and 0.5 g for zinnia) of the seedlings. These halopriming treatments (25 to 50 mM CaCl 2 or 50 to 100 mM KCl and KNO 3 ­) can be commercially used by the growers for early, uniform and healthy nursery stand of the tested species, which can ensure uniform maturity and flower harvesting of ornamentals.