Floral sex expression of Khieo Sawoei and Nam Dok Mai mangos grown in tropical and subtropical climates in Thailand.
Chaikiattiyos S., Pongsomboon W., Dasanonda M., Anupunt P.
Author Affiliation: Sisaket Horticultural Research Centre, Sisaket 33000, Thailand.
: 202-208
Abstract : Low mango yields are associated with irregular flowering in the tropics, or failure to set fruit in subtropical regions. Sex expression of mango flowers may have some influence on determining potential cropping capacity. During 1995-96, the percentages of hermaphrodite (functioning as female) flowers on mango cultivars Khieo Sawoei and Nam Dok Mai, growing in subtropical (Chiangrai) and tropical (Pichit and Sisaket) climates in Thailand, were investigated. Inflorescences of low-yielding Khieo Sawoei produced a predominance of male flowers on trees in subtropical and tropical climates. The percentages of hermaphrodite flowers in Khieo Sawoei were 10.7, 12.5 and 17.8 at Chiangrai, Pichit and Sisaket, respectively. However, equivalents values for Nam Dok Mai were 20.9, 43.5 and 28.1%, respectively. It is suggested that the low percentage of hermaphrodite flowers in Khieo Sawoei may contribute to the lower fruiting capacity compared with Nam Dok Mai. The relationships between floral sex expression and temperatures are also discussed.