Increased fruit set and retention in mango with exogenous application of polyamines

SummaryAqueous solutions of putrescine, spermine and spermidine of different concentrations (10−3, 10−4, 10−5, 10−6M) were sprayed onto panicles prior to anthesis or at full bloom, to study effects on fruit set and retention of the two self-incompatible cvs Langra and Dusheri, of mango (Mangifera indica L.). Putrescine (10−4M) increased fruit set in ‘Dusheri’ when applied prior to anthesis whereas spermine (10−4M) was most effective in stimulating fruit set in ‘Langra’ when applied at full bloom. The application of polyamines at full bloom resulted in higher fruit retention than when applied prior to anthesis. Spermine was more effective than putrescine or spermine in increasing fruit retention in both cultivars. Spray application of spermine (10−3M) prior to anthesis and putrescine (10−4M) at full bloom were most effective in increasing the final fruit retention in cvs Dusheri and Langra, respectively.