RECURRENT FLOWERING: A NEW PHYSIOLOGICAL DISORDER IN ALPHONSO MANGO

Alternate bearing habit and development of spongy tissues in ripe fruits are well known physiological problems which limit production and quality of Alphonso mango. Recently a new physiological flowering problems is noticed in Alphonso grown in the region which is characterized by emergence of new flowering panicle from the base points of previously emerged panicles. This recurring flowering is mostly observed after 45 to 60 days after the emergence of the main panicle. The recurring flowering causes severe fruit drop at various stages viz., peanut (63%), marble stage (29%) and egg stage (8%). About 68 mango cultivars were screened against this malady during 1997 season at Regional Fruit Research Station, Vengurla. It was evident that 28 out of 68 cultivars exhibited recurring flowering. Amongst the cultivars studied, Alphonso, Neelam and Yermal Goa recorded maximum intensity of 19 percent followed by Karanjio (15%) and Sannakulu (11%). The cv. Himmayuddin, Vanaraj, Baramasi and Hamlet recorded recurring flowering in the range of 6 to 8 per cent. Other commercial varieties viz., Ratna, Kesar, Sindhu, Pairi and Goamankur recorded less than 5 per cent intensity. Preliminary studied indicated that spraying with GA₃ (50, 100, 150 and 200 ppm) significantly reduced the intensity to 9.25, 2.0, 1.25, 1.75 per cent respectively as compared to the control.