3. Results and discussion
Paclobutrazol treatment induced profuse early flowering in
Totapuri trees. As a result of paclobutrazol treatment, days for
50% flowering were advanced by 19.3 days, the days from flowering to fruiting reduced by 22 days. The increased
flowering in mango by paclobutrazol is reported in mango cvs
Alphonso, Khiew Sawoey, Carabao, Dashehari and Kensington Pride. Early flowering is speculated as the consequences of changes induced by
paclobutrazol on overall physiology of mango trees viz., improved
nutrient uptake, rapid and enhanced photosynthate re-allocation,
altered hormonal balance and modifications in plant water balance.
In addition to effects on flowering, paclobutrazol treatment produced 26.2% more fruit number which resulted in 21.3% increase
in fruit yield. Fruit weight and fruit quality parameters such
as TSS and acidity were unaffected by paclobutrazol treatment.