Physiology of mango (Mangifera indica L.): I. Preliminary studies on the physiological characteristics of leaf.
Tyagi D. N., Devi K. T. M.
Author Affiliation: Department of Plant Physiology, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Vanarasi 221 005, India.
Indian Journal of Plant Physiology 31 : 368-373
Abstract : Two-month-old leaves with identical positions on the trees of the cultivars Malaviya Bhog, Amrapalli and Mallika were used for observations on leaf characteristics such as leaf area, water content, specific leaf area (SLA), diffusion resistance, transpiration rate, chlorophyll content and rate of photosynthesis. Calculations of the rate of photosynthesis were also made on the basis of chlorophyll content and leaf FW and DW. Malaviya Bhog had larger leaves, a low SLA (thinner leaves) and a higher leaf water content. Amrapalli and Mallika had higher rates of transpiration on the basis of FW. Chlorophyll content was similar in all cultivars but photosynthesis was highest in Malaviya Bhog. The high rates of photosynthesis exhibited on the basis of chlorophyll content in Malaviya Bhog indicated a higher chlorophyll efficiency in this cultivar. It is suggested that the lower chlorophyll efficiency in Amrapalli and Mallika is related to the thicker leaves of these cultivars.