Articles
Climate variables affect flowering and harvest times of durian, mangosteen and banana in eastern Thailand
Article number
1186_16
Pages
109 – 114
Language
English
Abstract
In this study, the effects of temperature, precipitation and soil moisture content on the flowering period and fruit quality of three tropical fruit crops were investigated.
Data loggers were used to measure daily high and low temperatures, precipitation and soil moisture content at depths of 15, 30 and 45 cm on a sample of 48 ‘Kluay Khai’ banana plants [Musa (AA Group)] (four planted each month of the year), five 10-year-old ‘Mon Thong’ durian trees (Durio zibethinus Murr.) and five 10-year-old mangosteen trees (Garcinia mangostana L.) at three orchards in Tha Mai district, Chantaburi province.
Temperatures ranged from 24 to 37°C during the initial study period (November 2011-September 2012). The data showed that temperature and soil moisture content did not affect the flowering time of banana, which consistently flowered within 303-359 days after planting, regardless of season.
For durian and mangosteen, the dry period did have an effect on flowering.
In 2011, durian and mangosteen began flowering 50 and 69 days after the last rainfall, respectively, when soil moisture tension had dropped to more than -100 kPa at a depth of 15 cm and -200 kPa at a depth of 45 cm.
The results indicated that both durian and mangosteen do not require temperatures lower than 20°C to induce flowering.
Both durian and mangosteen can withstand soil water potential loss of up to -200 kPa, and mangosteen appears to require a longer period of water stress to stimulate flowering than durian.
Data loggers were used to measure daily high and low temperatures, precipitation and soil moisture content at depths of 15, 30 and 45 cm on a sample of 48 ‘Kluay Khai’ banana plants [Musa (AA Group)] (four planted each month of the year), five 10-year-old ‘Mon Thong’ durian trees (Durio zibethinus Murr.) and five 10-year-old mangosteen trees (Garcinia mangostana L.) at three orchards in Tha Mai district, Chantaburi province.
Temperatures ranged from 24 to 37°C during the initial study period (November 2011-September 2012). The data showed that temperature and soil moisture content did not affect the flowering time of banana, which consistently flowered within 303-359 days after planting, regardless of season.
For durian and mangosteen, the dry period did have an effect on flowering.
In 2011, durian and mangosteen began flowering 50 and 69 days after the last rainfall, respectively, when soil moisture tension had dropped to more than -100 kPa at a depth of 15 cm and -200 kPa at a depth of 45 cm.
The results indicated that both durian and mangosteen do not require temperatures lower than 20°C to induce flowering.
Both durian and mangosteen can withstand soil water potential loss of up to -200 kPa, and mangosteen appears to require a longer period of water stress to stimulate flowering than durian.
Authors
V. Suwanseree, C. Yapwattanaphun
Keywords
flowering induction, soil moisture, low temperature, vegetative growth
Groups involved
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