“Use of Plant Growth Regulators to Improve Plant Growth and Productivity of Citrus Orchards.

FAISALABAD Sep 13: Experts at the University of Agriculture Faisalabad have cautioned orchard growers about the deteriorating citrus situation in the years to come and stressed the need for proper orchard management practices, disease-free nurseries, balanced fertilizer application, and effective weed management to safeguard citrus orchards from increasing greening disease and other problems. They expressed these views at a seminar on citrus titled “Use of Plant Growth Regulators to Improve Plant Growth and Productivity of Citrus Orchards,” organized by the Institute of Horticulture Sciences at Chak Jhakra 332 Toba Tek Singh under the Higher Education Commission-funded project “Introduction of Climate Resilient Citrus Germplasm and Establishment of Hi-Tech Citrus Orchard (CPEC-CRG-2-447) in collaboration with the China-Pakistan Horticulture Research and Demonstration Center and Huazhong Agricultural University, China. Horticulturist and Associate Prof Dr Muhammad Azam from UAF called for balanced and regulated fertilizer use, proper irrigation and fertigation, timely pruning, and the removal of dried and diseased branches to maintain orchard health and improve fruit quality and yield. Highlighting the importance of modern and climate-smart orchard management for sustaining citrus productivity in changing environmental conditions, Dr Muhammad Azam said that sustaining citrus productivity in the face of erratic weather patterns and other climate-related stresses required a shift towards modern and climate-smart orchard management. He stressed that growers needed to adopt efficient water management, improved orchard practices and climate-resilient production approaches to maintain yields and fruit quality. He further addressed the importance of plant growth regulators (PGRs), micronutrients, and plant biostimulants in modern citrus production. According to him, appropriate use of PGRs can support vegetative growth, flowering, fruit set, fruit retention and fruit development, while micronutrients are essential for healthy plant growth and physiological functions. He told that plant growth regulators and micronutrients were applied in citrus orchards under the HEC-funded CPEC-CRG-2-447 project, where their application resulted in improved vegetative growth and reproductive performance of citrus plants.. He emphasized that these technologies, when integrated with proper orchard management practices, can contribute to healthier trees, improved fruit quality and productivity, and greater returns for growers. Progressive Farmer Abdul Aziz stressed the need for balanced use of fertilisers and timely eradication of weeds to improve crop productivity and reduce unnecessary production costs. He said excessive or indiscriminate use of fertilisers not only increased the financial burden on growers but could also affect soil health and crop performance. Muhammad Arsalan Khan of the Pakistan Horticulture Export Board said Pakistan needed to improve the quality and post-harvest management of its citrus produce to compete effectively in international markets. He emphasised that proper grading, packaging, cold-chain management and adherence to international quality and food-safety standards were crucial for expanding horticultural exports.