METABOLIC CHANGES ASSOCIATED WITH FLORAL MALFORMATION OF MANGO (MANGIFERA-INDICA L)

Changes in metabolites were studied in healthy and malformed panicles and shoots bearing malformed panicles (SBMP) as well as shoots bearing healthy panicles (SBHP) of Dusehri mango at four developmental stages : (1) fully swollen buds, (II) bud inception, (III) fully grown panicl es prior to full bloom, and (IV) fully grown panicles at full bloom fo r two consecutive years. The malformed panicles and SBMP exhibited low er levels of carbohydrates than healthy panicles and SBHP. The C/N rat io was lower in malformed panicles and SBMP than in healthy ones at al l developmental stages except stage I in shoots where the ratio was hi gher. The non-reducing sugars were higher in malformed panicles in sta ges II and IV and SBMP at all four stages than in healthy panicles and SBHP. The malformed panicles and SBMP exhibited significantly higher levels of starch and total phenolics than healthy panicles and SBHP at all stages. In general, the contents of orthodihydroxy phenolics, DNA , RNA, and free amino acids were lower in malformed panicles and SBMP than in healthy organs at all stages. Malformed panicles had a lower l evel of arginine and higher levels of valine, tryptophan, and aspartic acid than healthy ones at all the developmental stages. The amounts o f cysteine and methionine were higher in SBHP compared with SBMP at st ages III and IV where these were in traces. Other amino acid concentra tions changed depending upon the stage of development.