Abstract

A field experiment was conducted at State Horticultural Farm, Kanyakumari District undertaken by the Horticultural College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Periyakulam during the year 2010 to 2012. In general, mango flowering is considered as a complex phenomenon. Besides, favorable climate conditions that favours off-season flowering, genetic potential of the varieties, physiological and biochemical variations and better management interventions could also play the vital role in promoting off season flowering. The environmental variables play a key and vital role in induction of mango flowering. The result was revealed by the Horticultural College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Periyakulam during the year 2010 to 2012. The number of inflorescence m^-2 (32.10 and 26.40), hermaphrodite flower per cent (37.95 and 33.25), male flower per cent (47.97 and 52.60) and fruit set per cent (0.67 and 0.63) were higher in cv. Neelum during main season and off–season respectively. With regard to physiological parameters, the highest soluble protein (12.55 and 11.94 mg100 g^-1) and total phenols (3.510 and 3.250 mg100 g^-1) and the lowest of IAA oxidase activity (169.85 and 178.20 µg g^-1) and Gibberellic acid content (1.05 and 1.06 µg g^-1) were recorded in cv. Neelum during main season and off–season respectively.

Key words: Flowering, physiological parameters, mango cultivars, season.