The application of fertilizer in the high fertilizer rate treatment
significantly increased TDW, SCMR, leaf area and branch number
at harvest but did not affect plant height, inflorescence number
and flower number per inflorescence (data not shown). Using WV
and FB, either as a foliar spray or soil drench, did not have any
statistically significant effect on plant height, TDW, SCMR, leaf area,
branch number and inflorescence number (data not shown)
The high rate of fertilizer gave a significantly higher fruit number
(P < 0.01), fruit dry weight (P < 0.01) and TSS (P < 0.01); however,
there was no effect on fruit fresh weight (Table 2). The application
of WV and FB did not significantly increase fruit number, fruit
fresh weight or fruit dry weight, but did significantly enhance TSS
(Table 2). There was no significant effect of WV or FB. However
when WV and FB were used in combination, there was an additive
effect. Interactions between treatment agents and fertilizer
rate were recorded (Table 2). The foliar spray applications of WV
in combination with FB, significantly increased total soluble solids
(P < 0.01) when fertilizer was applied at a low rate (Table 3).