Studies on the phosphorus translocation in mango with special reference to alternate bearing.
Narwadkar P. R., Pandey R. M.
Author Affiliation: Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi 110?012, India.
: 440-447
Abstract : Ammonium dihydrogen orthophosphate spiked with 32P (0.1 mci/0.1 ml) was applied to Mar.- and July-flush leaves of mango cultivars Dashehari (alternate bearer) and Bangalora (regular bearer), before, during, and after fruit bud differentiation. Leaves of fruit-bearing shoots were also treated with 32P at the fruit set, pea-sized, marble-sized, half-grown and full-grown stages of fruit development. Treated shoots were harvested 4 and 8 days later, and stems and leaves above and below the treated leaves and fruits were analysed for radioactivity and total P. There was preferential movement of P through the stem to the differentiating buds. Translocation of P from leaves to the fruit was most rapid during the fruit set stage, and decreased as the fruits developed. It is concluded that translocation of P is involved in controlling alternate bearing in mango.