Relationship of endogenous and exogenous ethylene with floral malformation of mango (Mangifera indica L.).
Zora Singh, Dhillon B. S.
Author Affiliation: Department of Horticulture, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana 141?004, India.
Acta Horticulturae : 367-370
Abstract : Endogenous levels of ethylene in malformed panicles at stages (I) fully swollen buds, (II) bud inception, (III) full grown panicles prior to full bloom and (IV) full grown panicles at full bloom, were significantly higher than in healthy panicles. Likewise, the shoots bearing malformed panicles showed significantly higher levels of ethylene compared with shoots bearing healthy panicles at the 4 developmental stages. In a 2-year trial, an ethephon spray (400 p.p.m.) applied at bud inception in Feb. significantly reduced floral malformation and increased yield. It was concluded that ethylene plays an important role in causing floral malformation in mango.