Improving Fruit Quality and Marketability of 'Balady'mandarin Fruits by Gibberellin and Copper Sulphate

Obtaining 'Balady' mandarin fruits with fewer seeds is a valuable target for consumers as it is one of the most important cultivars in Egypt because of its high eating properties. So, a field experiment was conducted during 2016 and 2017 seasons at a private orchard situated in Dacult area, Kafr El-Sheikh governorate, Egypt, to study the effect of foliar spray with gibberellic acid (GA3) at 25 and 50 mg L−1  , copper sulfate (CuSO4)  at 25 mg L−1  alone or  in combination on yield,  fruit quality , fruit seed number .and shelf life. The obtained results showed that the combination between gibberellic acid (GA3) and copper sulfate (CuSO4) treatment reduced the seed number per fruit ranged (4.66-7) and improved yield and fruit quality such as markedly increase in fruit weight, volume, SSC/acid ratio and ascorbic acid. Simultaneously, it reduced the weight loss % and decay loss % during shelf life in comparison to other treatments and control.