EFFECT OF MELATONIN, GA3 AND NAA ON VEGETATIVE GROWTH, YIELD AND QUALITY OF ‘CANINO’ APRICOT FRUITS

A field experiment was carried out during 2017–2018 in the Horticulture Research Station farm in El Kanater El Khayreia, El Kalubeia Governorate, Egypt, to find out the response of foliar application of melatonin, GA3 and NAA on vegetative and fruit attributes of ‘Canino’ apricot. Different plant growth regulators influ- enced all variable parameters related to vegetative growth and fruit. Results revealed that between all growth regulators, the foliar application of melatonin following by GA3 there was the highest vegetative growth as compared to other treatments, while GA3 gave the highest yield following by melatonin as compared to other treatments. Treatment with NAA improved vegetative growth, yield and fruit quality to a lesser extent as compared to the control.