Ethylene and other endogenous factors possibly involved in mango flowering.
Davenport T. L., Nunez-Elisea R.
Author Affiliation: IFAS Tropical Research and Education Center, University of Florida, Homestead, FL 33031, USA.
Acta Horticulturae : 441-447
Abstract : Growth responses of Keitt mango to deblossoming, defoliation and/or girdling were investigated. Apical panicles were removed from branches which were then defoliated after 2, 5 or 8 days. Some branches were girdled after deblossoming but not defoliated, and some were girdled 0, 5, 10 and 15 days after deblossoming and defoliation. Floral growth only occurred when defoliation occurred after 5 days and the number of panicles increased the longer the leaves were left on after girdling. Girdling at intervals confirmed that a floral stimulus moves through the phloem. Transition shoots (those shoots displaying a transition from vegetative to flowering in the same growth event) commonly observed in mango could be explained by increasing levels of a floral stimulus after vegetative initiation. Ethylene production by whole plants, buds, leaves and stems measured prior to and during floral development showed no differences from basal levels. Sprays of ethephon and KNO3 did not induce flowering in mango grown in the Florida region although there is evidence that they are effective in more tropical regions.