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Comparative Study of Flower Sex Ratio in Different Cultivars of Mango

(Mangifera indica L.)

Article in International Journal of Agriculture and Biology · March 2002

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INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURE & BIOLOGY
1560–8530/2002/04–2–220–222
http://www.ijab.org

Comparative Study of Flower Sex Ratio in Different Cultivars of

Mango (Mangifera indica L.)
MUHAMMAD ASIF†, MUHAMMAD USMAN, MUHAMMAD JAFAR JASKANI AND MUHAMMAD MUMTAZ KHAN
Department of Horticulture, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad-38040, Pakistan
†Corresponding author E-mail: [email protected]; Phone: 9200161-70 Ext. 388

ABSTRACT

Three commercial cultivars of mango i.e. ‘Anwar Rataul’, ‘Dasehari’ and ‘Langra’ were studied for panicle initiation time,
total number of flowers and proportion of male to hermaphrodite flowers. Early panicle initiation was observed in ‘dasehari’
on eastern side of the plant followed by ‘Langra’ and ‘Anwar Rataul’. Langra depicted highest number of flowers (598.75)
with maximum hermaphrodite flowers (473.08; 79%) on west and southern side of the plant, respectively. The least male
flowers (125.75) were also found in ‘Langra’. ‘Anwar Ratual’ depicted minimum number (59.83; 7.25%) of hermaphrodite
flowers. Proportion of hermaphrodite flowers in all the three cultivars was quite variable regarding plant side. Such studies in
commercial cultivars of mango will certainly be helpful in understanding its floral biology to improve the fruit plant yield.

Key Words: Mango; Mangifera indica; Sex ratio; Flowers; Anacardiaceae

INTRODUCTION perfect and staminate flowers are borne in the proximal

portions of the panicles (Musahib-ud-Din & Dinsa, 1946;
Mango is called as king of the fruits (Purseglove, Cobin, 1950). Mukherjee (1953) found that the percentage
1972). Its cultivation is as old as Indian civilisation i.e., four of perfect flowers in some Indian mango cultivars ranged
to six thousand years (Mukherjee, 1953a; Kostermans & from 25 to 36.6%. He also noted that higher percentage of
Bompard, 1993). Its development and culture in the sub- perfect flowers in `Langra' is closely associated to high
continent was primarily contributed by the Mughal productivity. Ali (1960) found 78.8% perfect and 21.2%
Emperors, particularly Akbar who planted Lakh Bagh, staminate with no pistilate flower in `Dasehari'. Majumdar
amateur gardeners, nurserymen and farmers by selection and Mukherjee (1961) observed the highest percentage of
and subsequent cloning. Now it has become an integral part perfect flowers on northern side of the trees and the lowest
of our history and culture. At present, 23455 million tons of on the east side in cv. `Hemsagar'. Chad (1964) found 1300-
mangoes are produced pre year and 509.8 thousand tons 1400 flowers from an average sized inflorescence in cvs.
being exported in the world. Pakistan holds 5th place Langra, Dasehari and Fajri during "On" year in India.
contributing 916.4 million tons only 3.9% in the total Nakhlla (1980) said that the percentage of perfect flowers
production of world’s mango. India is the largest producer varied within the tree and was higher during `on' years than
(12000 million tons) followed by China (2142 million tons) the "off" years. Desai et al. (1985) observed highest
and Mexico. While Mexico is the largest exporter (209.4 percentage of hermaphrodite flowers on the north and least
thousand tons) followed by India and Philippine. Total on the eastern side of the mango cvs. `Alphanso'
mango export from Pakistan is only 40.2 thousand tons of `Goamankur' and `Kesar'. Divergence in the sex ratio seems
worth 6 M US $ annually. Main importers are Dubai, U.K. to be governed by cultivar of physiological and
and Saudi Arabia. Facilitating growers and providing environmental conditions. Mostly, there is greater
incentives can boost up the exports. (FAO, 2000). percentage of perfect flowers found in the distal half of the
Developing comprehension of the mango floral panicles (Gunjate et al., 1983; Pimentel et al., 1984;
biology is essential as number of prefect flowers is highly Scholefield & Oag, 1984; Hussein et al., 1989). So far, little
relevant to production. The initial fruit set is directly related research has been made on the floral mechanisms of mango
to the proportion of perfect flowers though the final fruit set in Pakistan. Therefore present research venture was initiated
doesn’t depend on it (Iyer et al., 1989). Proportion of perfect on three commercial mango cultivars i.e. Anwar Rataul,
to the staminate flowers (sex ratio) is a variable component Langra and Dasehari to investigate this very important
within panicles, trees and among cultivars but is usually less aspect highly relevant to the fruit production.
than 50%. (Burns & Prayag, 1911; Popenoe, 1917;
Maheshwari, 1934; Musahib-ud-Din & Dinsa, 1946; Bajwa MATERIALS AND METHODS
et al., 1956; Chacko & Randhawa, 1971; Singh, 1971; El-
Nabawy et al., 1983; Gunjate et al., 1983; Pimentel et al., The project was initiated during blooming season at
1984; Chadha & Pal, 1986; Baghel et al., 1988; Hussein et Post-graduate Agriculture Research Station (PARS)
al., 1989 and Joubert et al., 1993). The greatest number of University of Agriculture, Faisalabad. Trees were grown
 FLOWER SEX RATIO IN DIFFERENT CULTIVARS OF MANGO / Int. J. Agri. Biol., Vol. 4, No. 2, 2002

under uniform agronomic and climatic conditions. There Differences in male flower count at the four sides within the
were three replications in each cultivar i.e., Anwar Rataul, cultivars was also found significant in cv. Anwar Rataul and
Dasehari and Langra. A panicle was tagged on each side of Langra but insignificant in cv. Dashehari. Maximum
plant. Panicle initiation data was noted with the emergence number of male flowers was observed on panicles of South
of first panicle on the tree. Male and Hermaphrodite flowers (1197.6) and West (215.6) sides in cvs. Anwar Rataul and
were counted on panicles tagged twice a week throughout Langra, respectively.
the flowering season with forceps and contact lens. Both
male and hermaphrodite flowers were detached after Number of hermaphrodite flowers. Highly significant
counting. Then the percentage of male, hermaphrodite and (P>0.05) difference among three cultivars was observed
total number of flowers was calculated. The experiment was regarding number of hermaphrodite flowers (Table II).
laid out in the randomised complete block design (RCBD) Maximum number of hermaphrodite flowers was noted in
and data was analysed by Duncan’s Multiple Range test Langra (473), which was significantly (P>0.05) greater than
(DMR) at P> 0.05. Dasehari (168.8) and Anwar Rataul (59.8, Table II). On the
other hand, hermaphrodite flower number on different sides
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION of three cultivars was quite variable. In Anwar Rataul,
maximum hermaphrodite number was observed on the
Panicle initiation date. Among three cultivars, panicle panicle on the North side (100) while in Langra maximum
initiation was observed in cv. Dasehari i.e., on February 1st; hermaphrodite number was found on the panicle of the
followed by Langra i.e., on February 7th and lastly in South side. But in Dashehari, maximum hermaphrodite
Anwar Rataul i.e., on February 12th. It was also observed number was noted on panicle of the Eastern side of the
that in all cultivars panicles initiation was started from the plant. Our findings are supported by Majumdar and
south side of the plant. This seems to be due to more Mukherjee (1961) and Desai et al. (1985) who observed
exposure of south side of the plant to sunlight hence highest percentage of perfect flowers on the north and
becoming warmer than all other directions. This warmness lowest on the eastern side of the plants of `Hemsagar',
might be the cause of earliest panicle initiation at the south ‘Alphanoso’, ‘Goamankur’ and ‘Kesar’ cultivars of mango,
side in all the cultivars. Our results are not in accordance respectively. The variability in the flower sex ratio seems to
with the observations of Desai et al. (1985) who observed be governed by a cultivar of physiological and
highest percentage of hermaphrodite flowers on the north environmental conditions.
side and the least on the east side of `Alphanso'
`Goamankur' and `Kesar' mangoes cultivars. This difference Table II. Number of hermaphrodite flowers/panicle
could be due to cultivar response to the prevailing
environment conditions. Side Anwar Rataul Langra Dasehari
East 42.0 c 429.3 bc 225.3 a
Number of male flowers. Statistical analysis showed that West 36.6 c 543.3 ab 108.0 c
cultivars varied significantly (P>0.05) among each other North 100.6 a 337.3 c 195.0 ab
with respect to the number of male flowers (Table I). South 60.0 b 591.3 a 147.0 bc
Mean 59.8 c 473.0 a 168.8 b
Table I. Number of male flowers/panicle
Total number of flowers per panicles. Data regarding total
Side Anwar Rataul Langra Dasehari number of flowers per panicle showed significant difference
East 798.6 ab 47.0 c 624 ab among cultivars and the sides of the plant. The cv. Anwar
West 633.0 b 215.6 a 1033 a Rataul has significantly (P>0.05) greater number of flowers
North 428.0 b 117.6 b 469 c
South 1197.6 a 122.6 b 411 c
(824.1) but it was statistically at par with Dasehari (803.2)
Mean 764.3 a 125.7 b 634 a while Langra has significantly less number of total flowers
Different letters in columns are statistically significant (P>0.05) (598.7, Table III). On the other hand, in cv. Anwar Rataul
maximum flowers were counted on the panicles of south
The cultivar Anwar Rataul had significantly (P>0.05) side (1257.6) while in cvs. Langra and Dasehari total flower
highest number of male flowers (764.3) but statistically at number was found highest on the panicles of west side i.e.,
par with Dasehari while Langra had significantly less 750 and 1141.0, respectively.
number of male flowers (125.7). These results for the
cultivar Anwar Rataul are further strengthened by the Table III. Total number of flowers/panicle
findings of Burns and Prayag (1911), Popenoe (1917),
Maheshwari (1934), Musahib-ud-Din and Dinsa (1946), Side Anwar rataul Langra Dasehari
Bajwa et al., (1956), Singh (1971), Chacko and Randhawa East 840.6 ab 476.3 b 849.3 b
(1971), El-Nabawy et al. (1983), Gunjate et al. (1983), West 667.6 b 750.0 a 1141.0 a
North 528.6 b 455.0 b 664.6 c
Pimentel et al. (1984), Chadha and Pal (1986), Baghel et al. South 1257.6 a 714.0 a 558.0 c
(1988), Hussein et al. (1989), and Joubert et al. (1993). Mean 824.1 a 598.8 b 803.2 a

221
 ASIF et al. / Int. J. Agri. Biol., Vol. 4, No. 2, 2002

Percentage of male and hermaphrodite flowers. Baghel, B.S., D.A. Sarnaik and P.K.R. Nair, 1988. Flowering and fruiting
behaviour of different varieties of mango (Mangifera indica L.)
Significantly (P>0.05) highest number of male flowers under Jabalpur conditions. PKV Res. J., 12: 37–9.
(764.33) were observed in cv. Anwar Rataul followed by Bajwa, B.S., J.C. Bakshi and T.S. Kocher, 1956. A note of the floral biology
Dasehari (634.41) while it was significantly lowest (125.75) of Mangifera indica L. var. Dashehri. Indian J. Hort., 13: 206–9.
in cv. Langra (Table IV). Khan and Singh (1946) also Burns, W. and S.M. Prayag, 1921. The Book of Mango. Bulletin, 103. Dept.
of Agri., Bombay.
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the other hand, significantly highest number of factors affecting flowering in Mango. Andhra Agri. J., 18: 226–36.
hermaphrodite flowers (473.08) was observed in the cv. Chad, N.K. 1964. Studies on fruit drop in mango, fruit set, its retention and
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Chadha, K.L. and R.N. Pal, 1986. Mangifera indica. In: Halevy, A.C. (ed.)
hermaphrodite flowers is found to be closely associated with CRC Handbook of Flowering, Vol. 5: 211–30. CRC Press, Boca
the more productivity in Langra (Mukherjee, 1953). The cv. Raton, Florida.
Anwar Rataul exhibited lowest number of hermaphrodite Cobin, M., 1950. Mango selection, propagation and culture. Univ. Florida
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Desai, A.G., V.P. Lionaye and R.T. Gunjate, 1985. Floral biology of
with the finding of Ali (1960) who observed high number of Alphanso, Goamaukur and Kesa varieties of mango. J. Maharashtra
hermaphrodite flowers in cv. Dashehari. These results are Agri. Univ., 10: 193–5.
further strengthened by (Burns & Prayag, 1911; Popenoe, El-Nabawy, S.M., A.M. El-Hammady, A.S. Khalifa, M.A. Rawash and
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(Received 13 February 2002; Accepted 06 March 2002)

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