Govt. Horticultural Research Station, Saharanpur, U. P.
1. Literature concerning floral biology, fruit set, fruit drop, etc. in the mango has been reviewed in short and the importance of such studies has been emphasised.
2. The time of emergence of blossom buds and the mean percentage of extension growth of the pan.cles have been detailed for two varieties.
3. A study of the panicles with reference to sex distribution in their different parts has been carried out in detail in both the varieties,
4. Details of anthesis and dehiscence in relation to meteorological records have been discussed.
5. The receptivity of the stigma has been found to remain up to about 72 hours after the opening of the flower. Germination of pollen grains on the stigma has been studied.
6. Studies in the viability, size, and shape of the pollen have been carried out in detail. The shape of the pollen grains has been examined in various media and is very variable. The structure of the pollen grain has been studied and the average number of germ tubes found is 1.84 in Dasheri and 1.69 in Langra.
7. The intensity of pollen in the atmosphere has been found to be quite low.
8. Employing various media, present studies fail to show the germination of pollen grains artificially.
9. Parthenocarpy does not occur in the mango varieties under study,
10. The number and nature of the sta-minodes have been described in the flowers of both varieties.
11. Different variations met with in the flowers of the two varieties have been described.
12. Detailed studies in pollination show that it is essential for fruit setting and is chiefly cross, effected by three kinds of flies.
13. Studies in fruit set at all stages, as affected by hand pollination and bagging and under natural conditions, have been carried out for both the varieties.
14. Fruit drop records show that the maximum drop takes place in the earlier stages of fruit development and that there is more drop in Langra than in Dasheri.
15. The maximum development of fruits takes place in April in both varieties. Growth in length, thickness, and circumference is almost same.
