Manipulation of flowering and fruiting induction through branch bending and fertilizer application in mandarin citrus cv. Batu 55

Abstract

Shoot modification for triggering flowering and fruiting induction in tropical mandarin citrus is not extensively documented, hence this research is critically important. The purpose of this study was to determine the influence of branch bending and fertilizer application on flowering and fruiting, hormonal level status, and physiological features in mandarin citrus cv. Batu 55. From May 2021 to March 2022, the investigation was carried out at Farmer‘s citrus orchard Dau in Malang (1,300 m above sea level), East Java, Indonesia. Bending (B1) or unbending (B0) and fertilizer (F1) or no fertilizer (F0) treatments were performed on existing three-year-old Mandarin cv Batu 55 trees with a planting distance of 3 x 3 m. The experiment was set up in a factorial randomized block design with four interaction treatments (B0F0, B0F1, B1F0, B1F1) and three replications. When compared to the control, the bending treatment with fertilizer application treatment raised the percentage of flowering plants by 100%. Five and nine months after treatments, the amount of fruit produced and harvested by this treatment was more than 19 and 1.6 times that of control plants, respectively. Branch bending and unbending treatments had relatively similar effects on the endogenous hormonal status and physiological behavior. Branch bending at the appropriate time of year may be beneficial in stimulating flowering and fruiting in mandarin cv Batu 55.