Effects of growth retardants, paclobutrazol (PBZ) and prohexadione-Ca on floral induction of regular bearing mango (Mangifera indica L.) cultivars during off-season.
Rahim A. O. S. A., Elamin O. M., Bangerth F. K.
Author Affiliation: Agricultural Research Corporation, Wad Medani, Sudan.
Journal of Agricultural and Biological Science 6 : 18-26
Abstract : Off season (out of season) floral induction will extend the season of mango production and increase farmers' income. Accordingly, the aims of this study were to investigate the roles of two gibberellins biosynthesis inhibitors, paclobutrazol and prohexadione-Ca; on off season flowering of regular bearing mango cultivars as well as to examine the possible associated hormonal changes. Paclobutrazol experiment was conducted on two orchards while prohexadione-Ca experiment was conducted on one orchard; all are located under tropics of central Sudan (Latitude 14°23°, Longitude 29°33?). Our results implicated the positive role of paclobutrazol on floral induction of the two regular bearing mango cultivars, Baladi AbuZaid and Baladi Burai during off season. Similarly, prohexadione-Ca was effective in advancing off season flowering of the regular bearing mango cultivar, Baladi Elriah. The levels of cytokinins (zeatin (z)+zeatin-riboside (zr)) and isopentenyl Adenine (i-Ade)+isopentenyl Adenosine (i-Ado) were generally increased during the floral induction period, while those of gibberellins and auxin (IAA) were decreased during the same period. Our results might implicated the possibility of inducing out of season flowering and thus extending the season of mango harvest under central Sudan conditions.