Effects of growth retardant sprays on growth and fruiting of mango (Mangifera indica L.).
Rath S., Rajput C. B. S.
Author Affiliation: Department of Horticulture, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 221?005, India.
Orissa Journal of Agricultural Research 2 : 232-235
Abstract : Mango trees were sprayed to run off twice before flowering at a 15-day interval in Feb.-Mar. 1978 with CCC [chlormequat] at 1000, 3000 or 5000 p.p.m. or CEPA [ethephon] at 200, 400 or 600 p.p.m. Water was used as a control. There were no significant differences in shoot length, number of leaves/shoot and cumulative leaf area/shoot between treatments at the time of spraying. Data were taken in Nov. 1978 and Nov. 1979. All treatments decreased shoot length and increased mean numbers of laterals and leaves/shoot compared with the control. Mean number of laterals (3.67) in both years was highest with 600 p.p.m. CEPA. In 1978, highest number of leaves (27.67) and cumulative leaf area (1295 cm²)/shoot were obtained with 5000 p.p.m. CCC, whereas in 1979 the best results (24.80 and 14.30 cm², respectively) were obtained with 600 p.p.m. CEPA. There was no significant difference between treatments in extent of flowering in 1978, but for all treatments flowering was significantly better than for the control in 1979. The numbers of fruits/tree (119 in 1978, and 78 in 1979) were highest with 600 p.p.m. CEPA. It is concluded that growth regulators have the ability to break the cycle of alternate bearing in mangoes.