Mango malformation in relation to physiological parameters under elevated temperature.
Singh V. K., Saini J. P., Misra A. K.
Author Affiliation: Central Institute for Subtropical Horticulture, R.B. Road, P.O. Dilkusha, Lucknow-226 002 (U.P.), India.
Indian Journal of Plant Physiology 3 : 231-233
Abstract : Seven-year-old trees of mango cv. Amrapali were covered with clear 400-gauge polyethylene sheets before the onset of flowering (first week of January) in 1996 and 1997. Covers were removed from trees after full growth of panicles. Polyethylene covers significantly increased the outer and inner temperatures and relative humidity of the trees. Average maximum and minimum temperatures around the covered trees were 4.1 and 0.89°C higher, respectively, than those around uncovered trees. Internal temperature of leaves also increased by 1.8°C through covering. Covered trees showed earlier panicle emergence and higher growth rates, and set their fruits 10 days earlier, than uncovered trees. Transpiration rate and chlorophyll contents were significantly higher in covered trees, on which the incidence of malformed fruits was much lower (1.14 and 12.50% on covered and uncovered trees, respectively).