Bearing behaviour of some South and West Indian mangoes II blossom biology.
Kumar N., Jaiswal U. S.
Author Affiliation: Department of Horticulture, Bihar Agricultural College, Sabour, Bihar - 813 210, India.
Haryana Journal of Horticultural Sciences 32 : 7-10
Abstract : The floral biology of 12-year-old trees of mango cultivars from the southern (Baneshan, Bangalora, Mulgoa, Neelum and Swarnrekha) and western (Alphonso, Kesar, Mankurad, Fernandin, Vanraj and Langra) zones of Sabour, Bihar, India, was studied during 1991/92 and 1992/93. The longest duration of panicle emergence (56 days) was observed in Langra. Panicle emergence was earliest in Neelum (8 January); panicle emergence in the other cultivars started from 19 January to 31 January and continued until 24 March. Panicle length varied from 17.92 cm in Vanraj to 29.28 cm in Bangalora, whereas panicle breadth varied from 11.62 cm in Neelum to 20.50 cm in Fernandin. The blooming period was shortest in Langra (26.27 days) and longest in Bangalora (42.17 days). Anthesis started on 10 February and continued until 24 March. The total number of flowers per panicle varied from 718.75 (Kesar) to 1690.47 (Langra). The percentage of perfect flowers was highest in Neelum (21.25%) and lowest in Baneshan (0.94%). The male:female ratio ranged from 3.72 (Neelum) to 111.09 (Baneshan). Pollen viability was high (91.23-92.55%) in all cultivars. Due to its long blooming period, Bangalora has potential as an efficient pollinator.