Bud initiation and morphogenesis in 'Tommy Atkins' mango as affected by temperature and triazole growth retardants.
Núñez-Elisea R., Davenport T. L., Caldeira M. L.
Author Affiliation: Tropical Research and Education Centre, University of Florida, IFAS, 18905 SW 280 Street, Homestead, FL 33031, USA.
: 192-198
Abstract : The triazole growth retardants, paclobutrazol (2000 mg/litre) and uniconazole (500 mg/litre), were sprayed on container-grown mango cv. Tommy Atkins trees. One month later the trees were subjected to either a cold (18/10°C) or warm (30/25°) day/night (12 h photoperiod) temperature regime for 75 days, until apical bud initiation. With chilling alone, 74% of buds initiated were floral, 11% mixed and 15% vegetative. With chilling plus growth retardant sprays, >90% were floral and 10% mixed buds, and bud initiation occurred nearly 3 weeks earlier than with chilling alone. At 30/25°, the triazole sprays reduced vegetative growth and internode length, but did not induce flowering.