Effect of paclobutrazol treatment on the growth and first flowering of intact and autografted seedlings of mango.
Salomon E., Reuveni O.
Author Affiliation: Institute of Horticulture, Agricultural Research Organization, Volcani Center, P.O. Box 6, Bet Dagan 50250, Israel.
Scientia Horticulturae 60 : 81-87
Abstract : One-stemmed seedlings that were not grafted or were grafted on their own stem (autografted) of mango cultivars 13-1 and Peach were grown in containers in a greenhouse. When 2 years old, the plants were pruned and paclobutrazol (PBZ) was applied to the soil at 0, 20, 60 or 240 mg a.i. per plant. The cumulative length of shoots that were produced by the autumn following pruning was reduced as PBZ rate increased especially in the autografted plants. Flowering occurred in spring, 32 months after germination. Autografting did not increase the rate of flowering. Without PBZ, 25% of the 13-1 plants and none of the Peach plants flowered. Of the 13-1 seedlings, 95-100% flowered with PBZ treatment regardless of the rate. In Peach the proportion of plants flowering increased as the PBZ rate increased. At the highest rate, 64% of non-grafted and 31% of autografted seedlings flowered. 13-1 seedlings treated with 240 mg PBZ set seedless fruits which did not persist.