Influence of pruning on the flower sex ratio in some mango cultivars.
Coetzer L. A., Oosthuyse S. A., Wishart D. L., Robbertse P. J.
Author Affiliation: Department of Botany, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa.
Yearbook - South African Mango Growers' Association 15 : 26-30
Abstract : Whole mango inflorescences were collected from 2 locations in South Africa from trees of the cultivars Heidi, Keitt, Kent, Sensation and Tommy Atkins. Sex ratios (hermaphrodite:staminate) of 1:98 (Heidi), 1:4.5 (Keitt), 1.3:1 (Kent), 4:1 (Sensation) and 27:1 (Tommy Atkins) were determined and the positions of the 2 flower types on each inflorescence were mapped. In the case of cv. Heidi, where inflorescences from trees >10 years old were compared with those from trees 6 years old, the percentage of hermaphrodite flowers was higher (6.54 vs. 2.95%) in the older trees. When trees were deblossomed to investigate the effect of delayed flowering on the sex ratio, the proportion of hermaphrodite flowers was not always increased. It was thought that ambient temperature probably influenced the sex ratios observed.