Regulation of Vegetative Flush for Induction of Flowering in Mango Mangifera indica L CV Alphonso

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted was conducted at Department of Horticulture newlineCollege of Agriculture, Dapoli Dist. Ratnagiri, Maharashtra during the year 2015-16 and newline2016-17. Two experiments were laid out viz., Effect of foliar application of plant growth newlineregulators on suppression of post monsoon vegetative flushes and Effect of foliar application newlineof various nutrients on hastening maturity of post monsoon vegetative flush. newlineAmong the growth regulators treatments for suppression of post monsoon vegetative newlineflushes, CCC 3500 ppm (T3) recorded the lowest vegetative flush percentage (28.06 per cent), newlineshortest (25.02 cm) shoot length. The early induction (103.17 days after spray) and highest newlineflowering percentage (74.44 per cent), maximum fruit set per panicle (19.19) and highest newlineyield (41.93 kg/tree and 4.19 t/ha) were in CCC 1500 treatment. The highest percentage of newlinehermaphrodite flowers (9.48 per cent) was in CCC 2500 ppm treatment. After 24 hours of newlinetreatment, the rate of photosynthesis was significantly varied due to foliar application of plant newlinegrowth regulators. The rate was lowered down than control. Among the treatments, PBZ 2000 newlineppm treatment showed lowest rate of photosynthesis (6. 40 and#956;mol CO2 m-2 Sec-1) and on par newlinewith CCC 1500 ppm and 3500 ppm treatments. The control had highest rate of photosynthesis newline(6. 65 and#956;mol CO2 m-2 Sec-1) newlineAmong the nutrients treatments for hastening maturity of post monsoon vegetative newlineflush, the early flowering (69.50 days for initiation of flowering with highest flowering newlinepercentage (73.5 per cent), highest panicle length and breadth (34.40 cm and 28.13 cm, newlinerespectively), maximum fruit retention (5.44 per cent) and highest yield (52.61 kg/tree and newline5.26 t/ha) were in KNO3 3% treatment. At one month before flowering, highest C: N ratio newlinewas in KNO3 3% treatment. The lowest incidence of spongy tissue (8.00 per cent) and longer newlineshelf life (16.42 days) were in KNO3 3% treatment.