Blossom Saver Quiz Quiz

Explore effective strategies and scientific principles behind controlling flower and fruit drop in horticultural crops. Understand causes, treatments, and best practices for maximizing yield retention.

1. Hormonal Control in Fruit Drop

   Which plant hormone is most commonly used to prevent premature fruit drop in commercial horticulture, such as in citrus or apples?

   1. Cytokinin
   2. Ethylene
   3. Auxin
   4. Gibberellin

   Explanation: Auxin is widely applied to prevent fruit drop by supporting natural hormone balance in the plant, delaying abscission. Gibberellin can affect growth but is not primarily used for this purpose. Ethylene promotes abscission and would increase drop. Cytokinin mostly influences cell division, not fruit retention.

2. Environmental Stress and Flower Drop

   Which environmental factor most often triggers excessive flower drop in horticultural crops like tomatoes and mangoes during critical growth phases?

   1. Sudden temperature fluctuations
   2. Optimal humidity
   3. Low soil salinity
   4. Consistent sunlight

   Explanation: Abrupt changes in temperature, especially extreme highs or lows, can disrupt flower development and cause drop. Optimal humidity and consistent sunlight usually favor blossom retention, while low soil salinity is generally not a direct cause of flower drop.

3. Role of Irrigation in Fruit Set

   During critical flowering and fruit-setting stages in horticulture, what is the impact of irregular or inadequate irrigation?

   1. Faster growth
   2. Increased flower and fruit drop
   3. Improved fruit set
   4. Uniform ripening

   Explanation: Water stress caused by irregular or insufficient watering often results in higher rates of flower and fruit abscission. Improved fruit set and uniform ripening require optimal moisture, whereas water shortage rarely accelerates growth.

4. Spray Application Timing

   In mango orchards, when is the most effective time to apply hormonal sprays to minimize fruit drop?

   1. Pre-flowering stage
   2. At full bloom or immediately after fruit set
   3. After complete fruit maturation
   4. During harvest

   Explanation: Applying hormone sprays during full bloom or just after fruit set helps stabilize developing fruits and prevents early drop. Spraying after maturation or at harvest is too late, while the pre-flowering stage mainly prepares plants for flowering rather than fruit retention.

5. Cultural Practice Impact

   Thinning of excess fruits in apple orchards primarily helps in which aspect of drop control?

   1. Increasing flower drop
   2. Encouraging premature abscission
   3. Minimizing physiological fruit drop due to competition
   4. Reducing fruit size

   Explanation: Thinning reduces the number of developing fruits, lessening competition for nutrients, which often minimizes physiological fruit drop. It does not reduce fruit size intentionally, nor does it aim to increase flower or fruit drop.