Morphological and biochemical changes in squash fruits with fruiting induced by cytokinin and auxin

Alterações morfológicas e bioquímicas em abóbora com frutificação induzida por citocinina e auxina

ABSTRACT

The use growth regulators from the cytokinins and auxins group has been shown to increase the productivity of certain crops, as they may be involved in the expression of plant sex, although little is known about the action of auxin IBA and cytokinin CPPU on the fruiting of squash, as well as the interaction between both, which makes this field of study promising. Thus, the objective of this study was to induce the fruiting in Atlas squash, by means of different forms of application and proportions of cytokinin and auxin and to evaluate their effects on the physical-chemical characteristics of the fruits. The treatments were composed of six proportions associated with growth regulators and of two forms of application. The experimental design was a randomized block design with four replicates. At 72 days after transplanting, growth and fruit quality analyses were performed. The behavior of the hormones is modulated by their concentration and place of application, and the effect may be beneficial or not. The proportions 50/50% via leaf and 75/25% via ovary were the ones that increased the growth and parameters of fruit quality. The application of CPPU via leaf at higher concentration in proportion decreases quality characteristics such as vitamin C, carotenoids and starch.

Keywords:
Cucurbita moschata Duch; Growth regulators; Quality; Productivity