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J Krishi Vigyan 2025, 13(2) : 471-475 ISSN 2349-4433 (Online)
www.iskv.in
DOI: 10.5958/2349-4433.2025.00086.5
Synergistic Effects of Gibberellic Acid and Brassinosteroids on Fruit
Development, Yield and Quality in Kokum (Garcinia indica)
Sharvesh S, Sathappan C T, Jawahar Srinith K. and Jeevanantham V
Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture,
Annamalai University, Annamalainagar, 608002, Tamil Nadu, India
ABSTRACT
Kokum (Garcinia indica) is an under utilized fruit crop native to the Sahyadri mountain range valued for
its health benefits and applications in various industries. Despite its potential, Kokum cultivation faces
challenges such as low yield and sub-optimal fruit quality. This investigation undertaken at Sahaja Farms,
Kokada in the Uttara Kannada district during the 2022–2023 cultivation cycle explored the modulatory
effects of gibberellic acid (GA3) and brassinosteroids (BRs) on the qualitative and quantitative parameters
of Kokum fruit. Employing a Randomized Block Design encompassing nine different treatments with
triplicate replications, the study discerned that foliar administration of BR at 1 ppm synergized with GA3
at 100 ppm (T8) elicited remarkable augmentation in fruit biometrics in achieving a mass of 35.37 g, a
length of 4.23 cm, a circumference of 12.60 cm, and an elevated productivity yield (42.60 kg/tree).
Additionally, T8 (BR @ 1 ppm + GA3 @ 100 ppm) enhanced total soluble solids (15.65 ºbrix), titratable
acidity (4.25 %), ascorbic acid content (9.96 mg/100 g), reducing sugar, non-reducing sugar and total
sugar (5.98, 5.29 and 11.17 %) and anthocyanin content (2.37 g/100 g). The synergistic effects of BRs and
GA3 promoted cellular activities and biochemical efficiency, contributing to improved crop performance
which highlighted the efficacy of BRs and GA3 in enhancing Kokum cultivation outcomes.
Keywords: Kokum, Brassinosteroids, Gibberellic Acid, Yield, Quality.
INTRODUCTION and Raman, 1949) or 2n = 48 (Thombre, 1964).
Morphologically, Kokum manifests as a lofty,
Kokum [Garcinia indica (Dupetit-Thouars) evergreen, and long-lived arboreal species
Choisy], a botanically intriguing yet under exploited characterized by a monopodial axis of growth. Kokum
fruit species, has recently garnered heightened is a languidly maturing arboreal species, distinguished
scholarly and industrial interest owing to its myriad by its elegant, svelte architecture, typically attaining a
therapeutic virtues and multifaceted utility across stature of up to 10 m, though certain mature individuals
gastronomic, pharmaceutical, and cosmetological may ascend to an imposing 15 m. The tree exudes a
domains. Taxonomically classified within the family yellowish, resinous sap. Following a juvenile latency
Clusiaceae under the order Malpighiales, Kokum is of 7 to 8 years, Kokum enters its reproductive phase,
indigenous to the biodiverse Sahyadri hill tracts of typically flowering between November and February.
peninsular Western India (Mayura et al, 2014). Its Fruit maturation culminates from April to May (Parle
natural provenance extends across the humid littoral and Dhamija , 2013). The drupe consists of three
and montane belts of southwestern India, including anatomical segments: the outer rind (pericarp), the
ecologically rich zones such as Wayanad in Kerala, fleshy mesocarp (pulp), and the enclosed seed. The
Uttara Kannada, Udupi, and Dakshina Kannada in pericarp is imbued with anthocyanin pigments having
Karnataka, the basal terrains of the Nilgiris, as well as principally cyanidin-3-glucoside and cyanidin-3-
the Konkan seaboard of Maharashtra and Goa. sambubioside, which bestow the fruit's characteristic
Sporadic populations have also been documented in the crimson hue. The anthocyanin concentration within the
sylvan landscapes of Assam, West Bengal, and the rind is estimated at approximately 2.4% (Nayak et al,
northeastern uplands (Chate et al, 2019). 2010).
Cytological investigations have revealed Kokum is predominantly localized within the
discrepancies in its somatic chromosome complement, Uttara Kannada district of Karnataka, comprising
with counts reported as either 2n = 54 (Krishnaswamy approximately 10–12% of the overall Kokum
471 J Krishi Vigyan 2025, 13(2) : 471-475
Sharvesh S et al
population (Kureel et al, 2009). Trees bearing this The study revealed that spraying BRs and GA3
yellow-fruited morphotype typically exhibit a more significantly improved fruit length and circumference
diminutive growth habit compared to their red-fruited in Kokum, with T8 treatment (BR @ 1 ppm + GA3 @
counterparts. Kokum cultivation is beset with a 100 ppm) producing the highest values of 4.23 cm and
multitude of constraints that adversely affect both yield 12.60 cm, respectively. In contrast, the lowest fruit
and fruit quality. Prominent limitations include length and circumference (2.75 cm and 10.71 cm) were
diminutive fruit dimensions, reduced mass, shortened recorded in the T 9 treatment (control). This
length, diminished girth, suboptimal yield, and inferior improvement can be attributed to the synergistic effect
biochemical characteristics namely, decreased total of BRs and GA3, promoting growth through enhanced
soluble solids (TSS), titratable acidity, sugar RNA and DNA content and increased protein
concentration, and ascorbic acid content. These synthesis. These outcomes resonate with the empirical
physiological deficiencies are frequently attributed to observations of Thorat et al (2018) in custard apple,
endogenous hormonal imbalances, restricted mitotic Mostafa and Koth (2018) in sugar apple, IŞÇI (2019) in
activity, and insufficient cellular elongation. In this grapes and Khatoon et al (2021) in strawberries.
context, the synergistic foliar application of Gibberellic
Acid (GA3) and brassinosteroids has emerged as a Similarly, the study observed a significant
promising agronomic intervention to ameliorate these increase in fruit yield in Kokum under the T8
impediments. treatment (BR @ 1 ppm + GA3 @ 100 ppm), which
recorded a maximum yield of 42.60 kg/tree. The
MATERIALS AND METHODS
T9 treatment (control) showed the lowest yield at
Research studies were carried out on the 31.82 kg/tree. This enhancement in yield can be
Kokum crop (local cultivar) at Sahaja Farms, Kokada, linked to the beneficial effects of BRs and GA3,
Uttara Kannada district, during 2022–2023. The which boost carboxylation efficiency, protein
experiment employed a Randomized Block Design synthesis and the coordination of key biochemical
(RBD) to assess the influence of diverse foliar spray and physiological processes in the Kokum plant.
regimens, administered during the post-anthesis phase, The present findings were in concordance with the
on fruit morphometrics and quality attributes. The
observations documented by Pujari et al (2021) in
RBD included nine treatments, each replicated three
times. Data analysis followed the methodology custard apple and Rajan et al (2017) in banana cv.
proposed by Panse and Sukhatme (1978), with a critical Grand Naine.
difference calculated at a 5% significance level. The data (Table 2) illustrated the significant
Statistical computations were performed using the effects of foliar spray treatments on the TSS (ºBrix),
IRRISTAT software package.
titratable acidity (%), ascorbic acid content
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION (mg/100 g), reducing sugars (%), non-reducing
sugars (%), total sugars (%) and anthocyanin
The data (Table 1) illustrated the significant
effects of foliar spray treatments on the fruit weight (g), content. The study revealed that spraying BRs and
fruit length (cm) and circumference (cm) and yield GA3 significantly improved the total soluble solids
(kg/tree). The current study demonstrated that spraying (TSS) in Kokum, with the highest TSS (15.65
BRs and GA3 significantly enhanced the fruit weight of ºBrix) recorded in the T8 treatment (BR @ 1 ppm +
Kokum, with the T8 treatment (BR @ 1 ppm + GA3 @ GA3 @ 100 ppm). In contrast, the T9 treatment
100 ppm) yielding the highest fruit weight of 35.37 g. (control) showed the lowest TSS (13.67 ºBrix).
Conversely, the lowest fruit weight of 23.59 g was This enhancement may be ascribed to the accelerated
observed in the T 9 treatment (control). The biochemical transformation of organic substrates such
augmentation in fruit mass is plausibly ascribed to as starch and pectin into soluble solutes and simple
enhanced cellular elongation and the efficient sugars via enzymatic hydrolysis. These inferences
translocation of assimilates toward the developing were consonant with the empirical findings of
fruits, facilitated by the synergistic interplay between Ghorbani et al (2017) in Thompson Seedless
BRs and GA3, as reported by Fujioka (1997). These grapes, Mahorkar et al (2020) in custard apple and
findings align with previous studies by Engin et al Sen et al (2023) in mango cv. Amrapali.
(2016) on sweet cherries and Rajan et al (2017) on Analogously, a marked diminution in titratable acidity
banana cv. Grand Naine. was observed in Kokum fruits subjected to BR and GA3
472 J Krishi Vigyan 2025, 13(2) : 471-475
Synergistic Effects of Gibberellic Acid and Brassinosteroids on Fruit Development, Yield and Quality
Table 1: Influence of Brassinosteroids and GA3 on fruit Development and yield parameters of Kokum.
Fruit Fruit length Fruit Yield
Treatment weight (g) (cm) circumference (kg/tree)
(cm)
T1 - BR @ 0.5 ppm 25.71 2.93 10.95 33.15
T2 - BR @ 1 ppm 27.09 3.12 11.18 34.48
T3 - GA3 @ 50 ppm 28.47 3.30 11.40 35.81
T4 - GA3 @ 100 ppm 29.85 3.49 11.64 37.14
T5 - BR @ 0.5 ppm + GA3 @ 50 ppm 33.99 4.04 12.20 38.47
T6 - BR @ 0.5 ppm + GA3 @ 100 ppm 31.23 3.67 11.87 39.93
T7 - BR @ 1 ppm + GA3 @ 50 ppm 32.61 3.86 12.14 40.72
T8 - BR @ 1 ppm + GA3 @ 100 ppm 35.37 4.23 12.60 42.60
T9 – Control 23.59 2.75 10.71 31.82
S. Ed 0.58 0.06 0.12 0.39
C.D (p=0.05) 1.17 0.13 0.25 0.80
Table 2: Influence of Brassinosteroids and GA3 on fruit quality parameters of Kokum
TSS Titratable Ascorbic Reducing Non Total Anthocyanin
(ºB) Acidity acid sugar reducing sugar content
Treatment
(%) (mg/100g) (%) sugar (%) (g/100 g)
(%)
T1 - BR @ 0.5 ppm 13.92 3.89 8.60 4.70 3.87 8.98 1.95
T2 - BR @ 1 ppm 14.16 3.82 8.79 4.88 4.07 9.76 2.07
T3 - GA3 @ 50 ppm 14.39 3.75 8.98 5.06 4.26 9.24 2.01
T4 - GA3 @ 100 ppm 14.64 3.96 9.16 5.23 4.67 9.50 2.13
T5 - BR @ 0.5 ppm +
GA3 @ 50 ppm 15.20 4.03 9.64 5.71 4.47 9.87 2.19
T6 - BR @ 0.5 ppm +
GA3 @ 100 ppm 14.88 4.11 9.36 5.42 5.02 10.29 2.25
T7 - BR @ 1 ppm + GA3
@ 50 ppm 15.17 4.13 9.58 5.63 4.88 10.51 2.31
T8 - BR @ 1 ppm + GA3
@ 100 ppm 15.65 4.25 9.96 5.98 5.29 11.17 2.37
T9 – Control 13.67 3.67 8.41 4.52 3.66 8.19 1.89
S. Ed. 0.15 0.03 0.09 0.05 0.04 0.10 0.02
C.D (p=0.05) 0.32 0.08 0.20 0.11 0.09 0.21 0.05
applications. The titratable acidity (4.92) was recorded ascorbic acid content may be ascribed to sustained
under the T8 treatment, whereas the minimum acidity glucose biosynthesis during the fruit maturation phase,
(3.67) emerged in the untreated control (T9). This catalyzed by the physiological action of
decline may plausibly be attributed to metabolic brassinosteroids and gibberellic acid. Comparable
reconfigurations wherein organic acids are trends have been documented by Rajan et al (2017) in
enzymatically converted into sugars and allied banana, Ali et al (2022) in strawberry, and Siddiqui et
metabolites. These observations were in harmonious al (2018) in tomato. Furthermore, the highest ascorbic
alignment with the findings reported by Thakur et al acid content (9.96 mg/100 g) was recorded in the T8
(2015) and Paikra et al (2018) in Fragaria × ananassa. treatment, while the lowest content (8.41 mg/100 g)
was noted in the T9 treatment. The improvement in
Moreover, the highest ascorbic acid content ascorbic acid levels may be due to the continuous
(9.96 mg/100 g) was discerned in the T8 treatment, glucose synthesis during fruit development induced by
whereas the minimal level (8.41 mg/100 g) was BRs and GA3. Similar observations were reported by
observed in the control (T9). This enhancement in
473 J Krishi Vigyan 2025, 13(2) : 471-475
Sharvesh S et al
Rajan et al (2017) in banana, Ali et al (2022) in Chate M R, Kakade S B and Neeha V S (2019). Kokum
strawberry and Siddiqui et al (2018) in tomato. (Garcinia indica) fruit: A review. Asian J
Dairy Food Res 38(4): 329–332.
The T8 treatment also resulted in the highest
levels of reducing sugars (5.98%), non-reducing Engin H, Gokbayrak Z and Sakaldas M (2016). Effects
sugars (5.29%) and total sugars (11.17%) in Kokum, of 22S, 23S-homobrassinolide and gibberellic
compared to the control (T9), which had reducing acid on occurrence of physiological disorders
sugars at 4.52%, non-reducing sugars at 3.66% and and fruit quality of 'Summit' and 'Regina'
total sugars at 8.19%. This enhancement can be sweet cherries. Erwerbs Obstbau 58:
attributed to the synergistic effect of BRs and GA3, 203–210.
which promote efficient mobilization of
photosynthates from source to sink. These results align Ghorbani P, Eshghi S and Haghi H (2017). Effects of
with Mostafa and Koth (2018) in sugar apple and brassinosteroid (24-epibrassinolide) on yield
Zhang et al (2022) in Musa acuminate cv. Huangdi. T8 and quality of grape (Vitis vinifera L.)
treatment also resulted in the anthocyanin content 'Thompson Seedless'. Vitis 56(3): 1-10.
(2.37 g/100 g), while the lowest content (1.89 g/100 g) IŞÇI B (2019). Yield and quality of Sultani grapes
was noted in the T9 treatment. Exogenous application ( Vi t i s v i n i f e r a L . ) t r e a t e d w i t h 2 8 -
of gibberellic acid (GA₃) and brassinosteroids has been homobrassinolide and gibberellic acid. App
shown to augment anthocyanin accumulation in Eco Env Res 17(5): 1-15.
Kokum by upregulating pivotal enzymatic activities
within the phenylpropanoid biosynthetic cascade most Khatoon F and Kundu M (2021). Efficacy of foliar
notably phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) and feeding of brassinosteroid to improve growth,
chalcone synthase (CHS). While GA₃ facilitates fruit yield and fruit quality of strawberry (Fragaria
morphogenesis and cellular expansion, × Anassa Duch.) grown under subtropical
brassinosteroids fortify stress resilience and amplify plain. Comm Soil Sci and Plant Anal 52(8):
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