Zeatin riboside (ZR) was prominent cytokinin in the buds
of paclobutrazol untreated trees. In such trees, the component
cytokinins, zeatin (Z), ZR and dihydrozeatin riboside (DHZR) and
total cytokinin contents increased gradually in the buds from 30
days before flowering till bud break. Leaf cytokinins were
marginally influenced by paclobutrazol application. Both in the
paclobutrazol untreated and treated trees, the trends with respect
to different stages were similar, with cytokinin contents attaining
peak at bud break stage. The increases in cytokinins in buds as buds
approached bud break stage and induction in cytokinin contents by
paclobutrazol give strong evidence of a role of cytokinins in floral
induction in mango. Chen in lychee and Abdel Rahim et al.
and Chen in mango reported increase in cytokinin
at floral bud formation. The increase in cytokinins by paclobutrazol could be the either due to stimulated synthesis of cytokinins that are transported to shoots or arresting of cytokinin degradation and is suggested to act positively in floral bud
induction by regulating cell division process, as cytokinins are well
accepted stimulators of cell division. Further supportfor cytokinins
in floral bud formation is well supported by Chen through
external application of benzyl adenine resulting accelerated floral
bud formation in mango. The increase in ZR and DHZR exhibited positive relationship with w revealing their involvement in maintenance of plant water balance.