Influence of planting dates on survival and growth parameters of two jamun (Syzygium cumini) cultivars: Goma Priyanka and CISH J-37

Jamun (Syzygium cumini), commonly known as Indian blackberry, is a tropical fruit tree of the Myrtaceae family, valued for its nutritional and medicinal properties. This study investigates the impact of different planting dates on the survival and growth parameters of two jamun cultivars, Goma Priyanka and CISH J-37, under the agro-climatic conditions of Prayagraj, India. The experiment was conducted at the Horticulture Research Farm, Naini Agricultural Institute, Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture, Technology and Sciences (SHUATS), using a Randomized Block Design with ten treatments combining five planting dates (2 July, 17 July, 2 August, 17 August, and 2 September) and two cultivars, replicated thrice. Key parameters assessed included survival percentage, mortality percentage, plant height, number of leaves, plant spread, leaf area, days to bud break, number of branches, leaf area index, and chlorophyll content. Results indicated that planting CISH J-37 on 2 September yielded the highest survival percentage (84.49%), plant height (1.39 m), number of leaves (12.45), plant spread (12.47 cm), leaf area (10.96 cmš), leaf area index (3.97), and chlorophyll content (62.29 SPAD), alongside the lowest mortality percentage (19.66%) and days to bud break (3.79 days). These outcomes were significantly superior to other treatments, particularly Goma Priyanka planted on 2 September. The findings suggest that CISH J-37 planted on 2 September is optimal for maximizing vegetative growth and survival under Prayagraj agro-climatic conditions, attributed to favorable moisture levels and reduced environmental stress during the late rainy season.