Sustainable approach to optimize flowering and yield in acid lime (<i>Citrus aurantiifolia</i> Cv. Balaji) using pre-harvest elicitors

Acid lime cultivation faces seasonal yield fluctuations with alternating peak and lean periods. Growth regulators enhance fruit set by promoting ovary growth and reducing abscission. Their application during full bloom improves fruit set and overall productivity. The present investigation was carried out to evaluate the role of pre-harvest elicitors in enhancing the flowering and yield of Acid Lime (Citrus aurantiifolia) Cv. Balaji. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Block Design (RBD) with eleven treatments and three replications viz., T1 - 25mM of Glycine betaine, T2 - 50mM of Glycine betaine, T3 - 75mM of Glycine betaine, T4–0.2 per cent of Potassium silicate, T5 - 0.4 per cent of Potassium silicate, T6 - 0.6 per cent of Potassium silicate, T7 - 50 ppm of Salicylic acid, T8 - 100 ppm of Salicylic acid, T9 - 150 ppm of Salicylic acid, T10 - Water, T11 – Control (No Spray). Trees treated with 0.4% potassium silicate showed the lowest number of days to first bud emergence (26.56) and 50% flowering (36.82), total flowers per shoot (22.69), staminate flowers per shoot (6.95), and hermaphrodite flowers per shoot (16.05). This treatment also resulted in the best yield-related traits, recording the highest fruit set percentage (55.62), the minimum days from flowering to harvest (140), the greatest number of fruits per tree (125.44), fruit weight (82.35g), and yield per tree (10.33 kg). Therefore, application of 0.4% potassium silicate is recommended to induce greater flowering and achieve higher yield during the lean season.