Tropical and subtropical fruits (2+1)

Flowering and fruit set

• Flower initiation is noticed at the tip swellings. It takes 25 days from bud stage to anthesis.
• Fruit development takes in 100-120 days from anthesis. It may take 180 days in cooler area.
• The trees tend to bear in alternate years.
• The trees fruits in May-July under low elevation and during Sept-Oct in high elevation.
• Under Indian conditions flowering occurs twice a year i.e Monsoon, July-October and summer from April-June.
• Fruit set is not a problem, however, when 10-15% of flowers are set, they may inhibit the remaining buds to flower, leading to conversion of those buds to vegetative development.