Inflorescence characteristics and flower sex ratio studies of container-grown mango trees.
Joubert J. P., Robbertse P. J., Coetzer L. A., Wishart D. L.
Author Affiliation: Margaretha Mes Institute for Seed Research, Department of Botany, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa.
Yearbook - South African Mango Growers' Association 13 : 27-33
Abstract : Two-year-old Tommy Atkins, Zill and Keitt mango trees were subjected to various temperature regimes under glasshouse conditions to induce flowering. Some of the trees were decapitated just before subjecting them to a cold treatment, to study the effect of low temperature on axillary bud induction. A period of 6 weeks at 15/10°C (day/night) effectively induced flowering in 94% of the trees. A significant difference between the lengths of the terminal inflorescences and lateral inflorescences was observed. No cultivar differences were noted in the combined lengths of all inflorescences. Differences in flower sex ratios and distribution of flowers on 4 types of inflorescence, depending on the presence of leaves and the position on the plant, were recorded.