Weather relations on floral sex expression in Alphonso mango.
Shinde A. K., Patil B. P., Godse S. K., Jadhav B. B., Kandalkar M. P.
Author Affiliation: Regional Fruit Research Station, Vengurle, 416 516, M.S., India.
Journal of Agrometeorology 7 : 135-139
Abstract : The effects of weather parameters on floral expression in mango cv. Alphonso were studied in Vengurle, Maharashtra, India, during 2000-02. The incidence of male and hermaphrodite flowers was observed on 35-year-old trees from October 2000 to February 2001, and from October 2001 to February 2002 before anthesis. The low percentage of hermaphrodite flowers (4.98-8.19%) during the 2nd phase of flowering was due to the low temperature (14.46-16.60°C) from 10 December 2000 to 7 January 2001. During this period, the humidity was also low (64.99-69.61%). During the 1st (15 October to 9 December 2000) and 3rd (15 January to 11 February 2001) phases of flowering, the percentage of hermaphrodite flowers reached 13-17% when the minimum temperature was 18-25°C and the humidity was 68-85%. The minimum temperature and humidity were significantly correlated with the percentage of hermaphrodite flowers. Flowering was initiated on the 43rd meteorological week during 2001-02 due to the low temperature (17.3°C). Until the 49th meteorological week, the percentage of hermaphrodite flowers was high (13.23-20.45%), then decreased from the 50th meteorological week to the 4th meteorological week (10.73%). The percentage of hermaphrodite flowers was lowest (5.59%) during the 2nd meteorological week. The reduction in the percentage of hermaphrodite flowers from the 50th to the 4th meteorological week was attributed to low temperature (14°C) and humidity (60-70%).