Chemical regulation of tree size in mango (Mangifera indica L.) cv. Alphonso. I. Effects of growth retardants on vegetative growth and tree vigour.
Kurian R. M., Iyer C. P. A.
Author Affiliation: Division of Fruit Crops, Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Hessaraghatta, Bangalore 560?089, India.
Journal of Horticultural Science 68 : 349-354
Abstract : The effects of soil drenching with paclobutrazol (2.5, 5.0 or 10.0 g/tree) and of foliar sprays of Cycocel [chlormequat] (4000 or 8000 mg/litre) or Alar [daminozide] (1500 or 3000 mg/litre) were assessed over 2 successive years as a means of chemically dwarfing young mango trees. Treatments were applied either once or twice, just prior to vegetative flushing. All treatments suppressed vegetative flushing, shoot length and leaf number and area. Paclobutrazol was the most effective; the highest rate practically arrested tree growth but had some phytotoxic effects. At the lower rates there was more than 50% reduction in tree volume expansion, with no phytotoxicity. Higher rates of Cycocel and Alar also checked tree volume but the effects persisted only for one season.