Dj. Batten et Ca. Mcconchie, FLORAL INDUCTION IN GROWING BUDS OF LYCHEE (LITCHI-CHINENSIS) AND MANGO (MANGIFERA-INDICA), Australian journal of plant physiology, 22(5), 1995, pp. 783-791
Buds of potted plants of the terminal flowering tree species lychee (L
itchi chinensis) and mango (Mangifera indica) forced to begin growth a
t high temperatures (florally non-inductive) and then transferred to l
ow temperatures produced inflorescences, so the whole process of flora
l induction can occur in growing buds. Floral initials were visible in
lychee within 39 days of transfer to low temperature and 30 days in m
ango, indicating that floral induction occurs relatively quickly in bo
th species. In most cases where plants were transferred to winter ambi
ent temperatures for floral induction, pre-activated (growing) buds fl
owered more consistently than buds that were dormant at the time of tr
ansfer. If the buds were small when plants were transferred from high
temperature to low temperature, leafless inflorescences formed. If bud
s were a little larger, leafy inflorescences formed, with leaves basal
ly and flowers terminally. Lf the buds were larger again, the shoots w
ere purely vegetative. All these observations are consistent with flor
al induction occurring while the bud is growing and provide for much i
mproved experimental systems for studying the physiology of floral ind
uction in species such as lychee and mango.