EVOLUTION OF ENDOGENOUS GIBERELLINS AT DIFFERENT STAGES OF FLOWERING IN RELATION TO RETURN BLOOM OF CACTUS PEAR (OPUNTIA FICUS–INDICA (L.) MILLER)

Changes in GA₃ concentration were recorded, at different stages of bloom, in flowers and fertile cladodes of O. ficus–indica as a response of flower emasculation, flower injection with PP333 and complete removal of the spring flush of flowers and cladodes.
The lowest GA₃ concentration was recorded at white petal stage in emasculated and PP333 treated flowers.
With the onset of blooming, GA₃ started to accumulate either in the flower or in the fertile cladode, and the highest concentration was measured at full bloom in the flower and in the cladodes whose flowers were not removed.
Flower emasculation or removal similarly affected GA₃ concentration at any stage of bloom.
However, GA₃ concentration was higher in the flowers than in the fertile cladodes, until petal shedding.
Consistent return bloom occurred only when the before bloom.
Fruit resulting from flowers emasculated or treated with PP333 had a lower size, percent flesh and seed content than fruits produced by untreated flowers.

III International Congress on Cactus Pear and Cochineal

P. Inglese, I. Chessa, G. Nieddu, T. La Mantia

inhibition, flower bud induction, fruit characteristics

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.1997.438.7