Effect of thermoperiodic changes on flowering behaviour in mango under coastal climate of Maharashtra.
Lad B. L., Pujari K. H., Magdum M. B.
Author Affiliation: Department of Horticulture, Konkan Krishi Vidyapeeth, Dapoli-415712, District Ratnagiri, Maharashtra State, India.
Annals of Plant Physiology 13 : 38-46
Abstract : Climatic requirements for economic mango production are exacting but unless these requirements are fully met, the yield will be severely reduced resulting heavy financial losses. In spite of this fact, the response of mango trees to various climate factors has never been precisely studied. Two important aspects of the environment influencing induction of flowering in mango are photoperiodism and thermoperiodism. Information available so far is inadequate with regard to the response of mango trees to these factors causing various biochemical and physiological changes leading to flowering. An attempt was made to find out correlation between the fluctuations during day and night temperatures and time of induction of flowering in mango. The present studies indicated that minimum temperatures below 10°C and above freezing point stimulated heavy flowering in cvs. Alphonso, Kesar, Ratna (hybrid) etc. and even in the mango grafts at nursery stage (6 month old) under the climatic conditions of coastal region of Maharashtra. Moreover, flowering occurred only in a single flush compared with 2-3 flushes under normal environmental conditions. However, the percentage of perfect flowers was lower in all the cultivars resulting in poor yield.