Induction of off season flowering in mango (Mangifera indica L.).
Anbu S., Parthiban S., Balakrishnan K., Thangaraj T.
Author Affiliation: Horticultural College and Research Institute, Periyakulam - 625 604, India.
South Indian Horticulture 49 : 365-366
Abstract : A study was conducted in Tamil Nadu, India during 1998-99 to evaluate the efficacy of potassium nitrate (KNO3) on the induction of flowering in mango cv. Neelum. Treatments comprised: water spray, 2% KNO3 at different stages of panicle emergence (half panicle, full bloom, mustard, after removal of panicle) and a control (without KNO3 nor NPK). Seven-year-old trees sprayed with 2 % KNO3 at the mustard stage resulted in the highest yield of 17.67 kg (111.7 fruits) per tree during off-season 1998-99 and 14.0 kg (61 fruits) per tree during main season[R1] in 1999. KNO3 sprayed at the mustard stage improved the fruit set and retention of fruits until maturity.