Promotion of floral axillary buds and vegetative growth with terminal decapitation of shoots in mango

The decapitation of terminal flower bud of mango cv. Dusheri starting from November 16 to February 14 at fifteen days interval significantly reduced the emergence of panicles and increased the production of axillary panicles. The emergence of axillary panicles from decapitated shoots were influenced by the temperature and the relative humidity prevailing two weeks post-treatments. Decapitation of teminal bud has reduced the panicle size but did not affect the percentage of hermaphrodite flowers. Considering the emergence of axillary panicles and vegetative growth, the period starting from December 16 to January 30 was proved to be the best to decapitate the terminal buds of mango.