Effect of Drought Stress on Vegetative and Reproductive Growth Behaviour of Mango (Mangifera indica L.)

Abstract

Present research studies were carried out to find the effect of artificial drought stress on the emergence of vegetative flushes in the same season and production of normal or malformed panicles in the next blooming season. It has been found that drought stress caused a great reduction in the emergence of vegetative flushes during the stress period. Number of leaves per flush, flush length and weight, leaf water contents and root growth was also reduced due to drought stress. Number of malformed panicles and percentage of malformation was minimized in the plants on which drought stress was imposed. Complete drought stress proved better to reduce the intensity of malformation than partial drought stress.