Modification of the Water Stress-induced Floral Response in ‘Tahiti’ Lime

Abstract

Abstract Treatments that inhibit production of citrus flowers, such as the presence of fruit, gibberellic acid (GA3) spray, and branch pruning, were examined on container-grown ‘Tahiti’ lime (Citrus latifolia Tan.) trees induced to flower by severe water stress lasting from 2 to 5 weeks. The presence of (or effects of recently removed) fruit located at the apex of branches inhibited production of new shoots as well as expression of the vegetative and floral nature of those shoots in basipetal lateral buds. Fruit ranging in size from 0.76 to 5.0 cm in equatorial diameter inhibited the shooting response. Shoot production and floral expression were normal on other branches. Fruit size or the amount of time fruit were present on branches were associated with the reduction in shoot and flower production. Aqueous GA3 sprays at 10−3 m concentration, applied at the onset or end of the floral inductive water stress treatment, inhibited expression of both vegetative and floral shoots. This inhibitory response dissipated as time elapsed after treatment. Pruning three branches from each tree replicate did not modify the flowering response in nonpruned water-stressed branches. The shooting response of branch units on these small trees responded independently to the presence or absence of fruit, GA3 treatment, and branch pruning.