New Zealand Journal of Crop and Horticultural Science abstracts
Effects of various inductive periods and chemicals on flowering and vegetative
growth of ‘Tommy Atkins’ and ‘Keitt’ mango (Mangifera indica) cultivars
T. Yeshitela
P. J. Robbertse
Department of Plant Production & Soil Sciences
University of Pretoria
Pretoria 0002, South Africa
email: tefe28@yahoo.com
P. J. C. Stassen
Department of Horticulture
University of Stellenbosch
Stellenbosch 7600, South Africa
Abstract The effects of potassium nitrate and paclobutrazol
on flowering and vegetative growth of ‘Tommy Atkins’ and ‘Keitt’ mango (Mangifera
indica) were studied for various periods in inductive and non-inductive
temperature regimes. The experiment was done at the University of Pretoria
experimental farm in a temperature-regulated cabinet on 2-year-old potted
‘Tommy Atkins’ and ‘Keitt’ mango cultivars. ‘Keitt’ was more sensitive towards
low temperature floral induction than ‘Tommy Atkins’. For both cultivars,
the trend for the interaction of duration and cultivar revealed the possible
floral induction complementation effect of PBZ after the trees stayed only
15 days at the inductive temperature (10/15°C). Paclobutrazol also significantly
reduced vegetative growth and number of days required for visible inflorescence
emergence in both cultivars. Potassium nitrate promoted the initiation of
buds for vegetative growth in non-inductive temperature conditions and reproductive
growth in inductive conditions. The minimum inductive period at 10/15°C
(12 h light/12 h dark) required for “complete” floral induction and development
was found to be 35 days for both cultivars. Surpassing the inductive (cold)
period showed adverse effects on normal development of the reproductive parts
and also delayed inflorescence emergence.
Keywords cold units; flowering; paclobutrazol; potassium
nitrate; vegetative flush
H03101; Received 30 October 2003; accepted 23 March 2004; Online publication
date 15 June 2004
New Zealand Journal of Crop and Horticultural Science, 2004, Vol. 32:
209-215
0014-0671/04/3202-0209 $7.00 © The Royal Society of New Zealand
2004
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