Internal leaf ethylene levels in relation to flowering in mango (Mangifera indica L.).
Saidha T., Rao V. N. M., Santhanakrishnan P.
Author Affiliation: Agricultural College and Research Institute, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India.
Indian Journal of Horticulture 40 : 139-145
Abstract : Flower bud formation (FBF) in 3 cultivars was studied during 2 successive years. The peak period of FBF occurred in November in all cultivars. Pruning and thinning or thinning alone had no significant effect on the time of FBF but both treatments enhanced leaf ethylene level and the percentage of flowering. There was a gradual increase in leaf ethylene level from June to November in all cultivars with a sharp decrease in December coinciding with inflorescence emergence. Ethylene level in all cultivars was higher in the on than in the off year. Flowering shoots had 3-5 times higher ethylene levels than vegetative shoots. A possible role of ethylene in the flowering of mango is suggested.