Assessment of Physio-Chemical, Nutritional and Enzymatic Activities in the Bud in Relation to Flowering Behaviours of Different Alternate Bearing Mango (Mangifera indica L.) Cultivars

• Published in: Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis Vol. 54; no. 5; pp. 640 - 654
• Main Authors: Das, Shubranil, Kundu, Manoj, Sengupta, Samik, Nahakpam, Sareeta
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Philadelphia Taylor & Francis 09-03-2023; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: Alternate bearing; carbohydrate; Carbohydrates; Catalase; Cultivars; Economics; Emergence; Enzymatic activity; Enzyme activity; Enzymes; Flowering; mango; Mangoes; Nutrient content; nutrients; Peroxidase; Phosphorus; Polyphenol oxidase; Potassium; Profitability; protein; Seasons; Trees
• ISSN: 0010-3624; 1532-2416; 1532-4133
• DOI: 10.1080/00103624.2022.2118306

Most of the commercial mango cultivars have the tendency of alternate bearing, which significantly reduces the productivity and profitability of the crop. But literatures on the exact physiological mechanism behind flowering in mango during on and off year are very scanty. Hence, an attempt has been made to understand the physio-chemical and nutritional basis for on- and off-season bearing in different commercial mango cultivars. Specific leaf weight and net assimilation rate were increased marginally at panicle emergence stage as compared to bud break stage. Carbohydrate and soluble protein contents in the bud at bud break stage were estimated significantly higher in on-season trees (195.25 µg g
−1
and 5.73 mg 100 g
−1
, respectively). Activities of oxidative enzymes (polyphenol oxidase, peroxidase, catalase) in the bud were recorded significantly higher in off-season trees. Nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium contents in the bud at bud break stage were estimated significantly higher in off-season trees (1.52, 0.22 and 0.53%, respectively), although secondary and micronutrient contents were estimated higher in on-season one. Finally, the generative buds per branch were estimated significantly higher in on-season trees (90.66%) as compared to off-season one (18.68%). Hence, it can be concluded that increased physio-chemical attributes in the bud at bud break stage has direct relation with panicle emergence in mango. However, increased macronutrients and higher activities of oxidative enzymes leads to off-season bearing, although increased secondary and micronutrient contents in the bud at bud break stage are helpful for improved flowering in mango.