Hormonal physiology of mango malformation - an overview.
Zora Singh
Author Affiliation: Department of Horticulture, Curtin University of Technology, Western Australia 6845, Australia.
: 229-236
Abstract : Mango malformation is a serious threat to the mango industry in various countries of the world. Two types of mango malformation occur: vegetative and floral. Aetiology and control of mango malformation are yet not well understood. Fungi, mites, viruses, physiological factors, malformins and mangiferins are its reported causes. This review focuses on the role of endogenous phytohormones in the causation of mango malformation and their in vivo regulation to minimize floral malformation. Recent studies revealed that malformin-like substance(s) are involved in mango malformation, with malformin stimulating ethylene production. Floral malformation has also been associated with higher levels of abscisic acid, gibberellic acid and zeatin but lower levels of IAA. Vegetative malformation is associated with malformin-stimulated ethylene production, abscisic acid, zeatin and decreased levels of IAA and gibberellic acid. In conclusion, malformin-like substances are somehow involved in malformation, with malformin-stimulated ethylene production causing a hormonal imbalance and consequently disturbed metabolism inducing malformation. Recent experiments have revealed that a single foliar spray application of cobalt sulfate (1000 ppm), prior to flower bud differentiation and pruning of malformed parts, substantially reduced the incidence of floral malformation.