International Journal of Fauna and Biological Studies 2018; 5(6): 99-101

ISSN 2347-2677
IJFBS 2018; 5(6): 99-101
Received: 14-09-2018
Hormonal approaches in floral induction of mango
Accepted: 17-10-2018

G Chandramohan Reddy G Chandramohan Reddy and Sweety

Department of Horticulture,
CCS Haryana Agricultural
University, Hisar, Haryana, Abstract
India Mango exhibits a wide variation in flowering and fruiting habit due to varietal differences and diversity
in agro-climatic conditions. Floral induction in mango is not once off happening, but rather a continuous
Sweety process lasting during the early stages of bud differentiation. There are some correlative evidences for
Department of Horticulture, regulation of floral initiation in mango by plant growth regulators, GA, PBZ, Ethylene, Cytokinin, TIBA
CCS Haryana Agricultural etc. PBZ could promote flowering in two ways by speed up and increase the synthesis of the floral
University, Hisar, Haryana, stimulus in an inductive cycle and by affecting the ratio between flowering promoter and flower
India inhibiting promoter. Spraying of 500-1000 ppm ethephon and 100 ppm benzyl amino purine one month
before the normal flowering resulted early bud break and increased flowering in mango. As a final
consequence of efforts to elucidate the mechanisms of floral induction in mango becoming clearer at the
hormonal balances play a major role in mango flowering and fruiting. Application of growth regulators in
right dosages on and off year of crop helpful for getting good crop with excellent quality.

Keywords: Mango, flowering, PBZ, yield

Introduction
The Mango (Mangifera indica L.), member of family Anacardiaceae, is amongst the most
important tropical fruit of the world. Indo – Burma-Siam regions and Philippines are
considered to be the probable places of origin of mango. Besides delicious taste and excellent
flavour, mango is rich in vitamins and minerals. Mango has been under cultivation for more
than 4000 years in India. India continues to be the largest mango producing country of the
world, accounting for more than 50 per cent of the world production. Flowering is the first of
several events that set the stage for mango production each year.
Mango exhibits a wide variation in flowering and fruiting habit due to varietal differences and
diversity in agro-climatic conditions. Fruiting in most of the commercially available varieties
are restricted between April and July months due to its strong dependency on environment for
flowering, particularly on cool winter temperatures and the age of the flowering shoots. (Rojas
et al., 2010) [13].
India is the largest producer of mango but the productivity is very low. Low productivity in
mango is mainly due to low plant population per hectare, absence of scientific methods of
irrigation, inefficient nutrient management, improper orchard management practices and losses
due to pests and diseases. The flowering mechanism in mango is poorly understood, although
it clearly depends on environmental factors to bring about the transition from vegetative
growth to reproductive growth, after causing a check in vegetative growth. Floral induction in
mango is not once off happening, but rather a continuous process lasting during the early
stages of bud differentiation. (Chada et al., 1993) [4] The various external factors are known to
stimulate flowering such as water, low temperature and atmospheric stress seem to operate
through putting a check on vegetative growth. Cultivars differ considerably in their growth and
flowering behavior, especially the duration of the juvenile phase. (Ducher, 1972) [6]. There
several reasons that can be attributed for low productivity of mango, but among them, the
major cause is the dominance of vegetative phase over the reproductive phase especially under
tropical conditions. The improvement in productivity in modern agriculture system is
increasingly dependent on manipulation of the physiological activities of the crop by chemical
means. In commercial mango plantations it is desirable to control the vegetative growth to get
Correspondence
G Chandramohan Reddy uniform and regular flowering.
Department of Horticulture,
CCS Haryana Agricultural Physiological approaches in floral induction
University, Hisar, Haryana, Hormonal approaches in floral induction
India According to the proposed hypothesis of Chandler (1950) with the beginning of cell division
~ 99 ~
International Journal of Fauna and Biological Studies

Flower induction in mango could occur only when the cell 1986).
division had started and that a flower inducing hormone PBZ is systemic and can be taken up by roots or lenticels or
played no part in the initiation of growth; but when present in bark perforations and through shoot tips, young stems and
sufficient amount at the beginning of growth, it determined leaves, if applied as foliar spray (Voon et al., 1990). It is
the course of differentiation of tissue in the auxiliary buds. He evident from the results of Burondkar and Gunjate (1993) that
also proposed that if a hormone induced flowering in plants PBZ application increased the number of flowering shoots.
and the source of hormone was the leaf or some precursor Tongumpai et al. (1991) noticed that the number of flowering
formed in the leaf, then the leaf surface rather than the shoots of all PBZ treated trees were twice as high as that of
accumulation of carbohydrates might have the dominant the control. Induction of early flowering also advanced the
influence on flowering. Singh (1961) [14] showed that the fruit maturity (Burondkar and Gunjate, 1993). Flowering in
regular bearing cultivars such as ‘Neelum’ were capable for mango is associated with reduced vegetative growth often
synthesis of flower inducing hormone in the shoots with the induced by low activity of gibberellins (Voon et al., 1991).
newly merged leaves. Exogenous application of GA as well as high levels of
There are some correlative evidences for regulation of floral endogenous gibberellins has proven to be a major hindrance
initiation in mango by plant growth regulators, GA in in the way of flower bud differentiation in a number of
particular. Evidences came from measurement of endogenous temperate and tropical fruit crops including mango (Tomer,
gibberellins, the effect of exogenous gibberellins and the 1984). Considering the inhibitory role of GA in flower
effect of gibberellins biosynthesis inhibitors. In mango trees, development in mango, paclobutrazol owing to its anti-
flowering is often associated with reduced vegetative growth gibberellin activity (Voon et al., 1990) could induce or
often induced by lower activity of gibberellins. Exogenous intensify flowering by blocking the conversion of kaurene to
application of GA as well as high level of endogenous GA has kaurenoic acid. Such alterations could be important in
proved a major hindrance in the way of flower bud restricting vegetative growth and enhancing flowering by
differentiation in a number of temperate and tropical fruit altering the source–sink relationship. Reduction in
crops including mango. Due to lack of pruning and other gibberellins induced by paclobutrazol application has been
factors that reduce vegetative bios (water stress, cold reported in mango by Flesher and Gilley (2000), Abdel Rahim
temperatures etc.) trees become extensively vegetative et al. (2011), [2] Kulakarni (1988), Protacio et al. (2000),
particularly under tropical conditions. The yield obtained Upreti et al. (2013). [17]
from those trees is very low and usually bears in alternative
years. Thus the vegetative vigour of such trees should be Ethylene
suppressed. One of such methods is application growth Ethylene is unique that it is the only gaseous phytohormone,
regulators like PBZ. usually presents in minute quantities and affects various
physiological activities like flowering, fruit ripening,
Paclobutrazol abscission etc. in plants. Ethylene generating agent, ethephon
Paclobutrazol is a broad spectrum plant growth retardant that spraying at 125– 200 ppm induced flowering in Carabo
selectively controls tree vigor without marked effect on the mango in Philippines within six weeks after treatment
size of fruit. The cropping manipulations possible with PBZ (Dutcher, 1972). Ethephon has also been successful in India
ranges from off-season or early season to simply increased for increasing flowering of Langra and Dashehari during ‘on’
yields (Voon et al., 1991). The hormonal concept of flowering years (Chacko et al., 1974; [3]. Nunez-Elisea et al., (1980) [9]
in mango implies that cyclic synthesis of floral stimulus in the reported that spraying of 500-1000 ppm ethephon one month
leaves and the difference between two such cycles would before the normal flowering increased the flowering by 40-55
determine the flowering behavior of a cultivar (Kulakarni, per cent in ten years old Haden mango.
1986) [8].
PBZ could promote flowering in two ways by speed up and Cytokinin
increase the synthesis of the floral stimulus in an inductive The flowering mango tips were associated with higher levels
cycle and by affecting the ratio between flowering promoter of cytokinins, particularly Zeatin and Zeatin ryboside was
and flower inhibiting promoter (Kulakarni, 1988). reported by (Agarwal et al., 1980) in eleven mango cultivars.
Paclobutrazol is having anti– gibberellins activity which Chen (1983) extensively studied the importance of cytokinins
blocks the conversion of ent kaurene to ent kaurenol in the in the regulation of flower bud differentiation in mango.
terpenoid pathway. One of the major roles of gibberellins is Elevated cytokinins have been implicated in breaking
the stimulation of cell elongation. When gibberellins dormancy in adventitious and axillary buds (Stafstrom, 1995).
biosynthesis is inhibited, cell division occurs, but new cells do Chen (1987) reported, application of 100 ppm benzyl amino
not elongate resulting on suppression of vegetative growth. purine during themonth of October, resulted early bud break
(burender et al., 1993) [2]. and flowering in mango and concluded that elevated levels of
Application of paclobutrazol to the soil has been cytokinins found prior to and during flowering and applied
commercialized for early and enhanced flowering in mango. BA led to conclusion that cytokins are involved in stimulation
The various effects of paclobutrazol on tree physiology have of bud break.
been discussed below. Paclobutrazol can be applied as foliar
spray or soil application or soil injection or by incorporating TIBA (Tri Iodo Benzoic Acid) It was well known that the
in nutrient solution. Davenport and Nunez-Elisea (1997) spraying of different bio regulators like TIBA, cycocel, Alar
elaborated that unlike the other classes of retardants that are etc. during the period of critical fruit bud differentiation
normally applied as foliar spray, PBZ is usually applied to the resulted in induction of flowering during ‘off’ year (Rao and
soil due to its low solubility and long residual activity. PBZ is Ravisankar, 1992). Among them TIBA @ 100 ppm promoted
taken up through roots and transported through xylem to the 100 per cent flowering.
stem and accumulates in the leaves and fruits (Wang et al.,
~ 100 ~
International Journal of Fauna and Biological Studies

Conclusion 11. Rajput CBS, JN Singh. Effects of urea and GA3 sprays
Floral induction in mango is very critical stage and play vital on the growth, flowering and fruiting characters of
role in producing the crop and it is also indirectly related to mango. Acta Horticulture. 1988; 231:301-305.
the overall productivity of mango. A number of factors are 12. Ramirez F, Davenport TL. Mango (Mangifera indica L.)
involved in the floral induction of mango such as age of the flowering physiology. Scientia Horticulture. 2010;
shoots, climatic conditions, physiological, biochemical 126:65-72.
conditions. In addition, anthropogenic factors such as pruning, 13. Rao MM, Ravisankar H. Chemical induction of flowering
irrigation, application of nitrogenous substances and/or on fruited shoots in off’ phase Alphonso mango trees.
fertilizers and exposure to ethylene can also stimulate the Karnataka Journal of Agricultural Sciences. 1992; 5:180-
floral initiation. Although a period of low temperature (less 193.
than 18 0 C) during the pre-flowering period is thought to be 14. Rojas E, Leal F, Campbell RJ. Control of flowering and
involved in floral initiation. Some floral promoter and some shooting in mango (Mangifera indica L.) with various
inhibitors are also involved in the initiation of flowering of chemical products. Proceedings of the International
mango. Likewise, a flowering stimulus is synthesized in Society for Tropical and Tropical Horticulture. 1993;
leaves which induce floral initiation in buds of mango. 37:142-147.
Relatively higher levels of some inhibitors (abscise acid) was 15. Sen PK. Bandopadhyaya R, Roy SS, Basu RN. Use of
recorded during the flower-bud-initiation in the ‘on’ year ethrel in controlling nonuniform bearing of mango.
shoots of mango trees compared to shoots of ‘off’ year trees. Indian Agriculture. 1973; 17:185-288.
It indicates that in the flowering of mango, promoters and 16. Tongompai P. Jutamanace K, Subhadrabandu S. Effect of
inhibitors might be actively involved. As a final consequence paclobutrazol on flowering of mango cv. Khiew sawoey.
of efforts to elucidate the mechanisms of floral induction in Acta Horticulture. 1991; 291:67-70.
mango becoming clearer at the hormonal balances play a 17. Upreti KK, Reddy YTN, Shivu P, Bindu GV, Jayaram
major role in mango flowering and fruiting. HL, Rajan S. Hormonal changes in response to
paclobutrazol induced early flowering in mango cv.
References Totapuri. Scientia Horticulture. 2013; 150:414-418.
1. Agarwal A, Ram S, Gag GK. Endogenous cytokinins of
mango shoot tips and their significance in flowering.
Indian Journal of Experimental Biology. 1980;
18(5):504-509.
2. Burondkar MM, Gunjate RT. Control of vegetative
growth and induction of regular and early cropping in
Alphonso mango with paclobutrazol. Acta Horticulture.
1993; 341:206-215.
3. Chacko EK, Kohli RR, Randhava GS. Investigations on
the use of 2- chloroethylphosponic acid (Ethephon
CEPA) for the control of biennial bearing in mango.
Scientia. Horticulturae. 1974; 2:389-398.
4. Chadha KL, Pal RN. Mangifera indica. In: CRC hand
book of flowering (ed. AC. Halevy), 5: 211-230. Catch
poole, D. W. and Bally, I. S. E. 1993. Earlier flowering
and more fruit. Mango Care Newsl. 1986; 8:2-3.
5. Ducher RD. Induction of early flowering in Carabo
mango in Philippines by smudging and ethaphon
application. Hort. Sci. 1972; 7:343.
6. Khattab M, Haseeb GM, Shaban AE, Arafa MA. Effect
of paclobutrazol and potassium nitrate on flowering and
fruiting of Ewais and Sidik mango trees. Bulletin of
Faculty of Agriculture, Cairo University. 2006;
57(1):107-123.
7. Kulakarni VJ. Chemical control of tree vigour and the
promotion of flowering and fruiting in mango (Mangifera
indica L.). Journal of Horticulture Sciences. 1986;
63:361-367.
8. Omer E. Inhibition of flowering in mango by gibberellic
acid. Scientia Horticulturae. 1984; 24:299-303.
9. Protacio CM. A model for potassium nitrate- induced
flowering in mango. Acta Hort. 2000; 509:545-552.
10. Rahim AOS, Osman ME, Fritz KB. Effect of
paclobutrazol (PBZ) on floral induction and associated
hormonal and metabolic changes of biennially bearing
mango (Mangifera indica L.) cultivars during off year.
ARPN. Journal of Agriculture Biological Sciences. 2011;
6(2):55-67.

~ 101 ~