Synergistic effect of urea, zinc and PGPR in enhancing panicle morphology, flower sex ratio and biomass attributes in mango cv. Langra

Abstract

The yield of mangoes (Mangifera indica L.) is chiefly influenced by the equilibrium between reproductive and non-reproductive biomass, panicle vitality, and floral quality. Conversely, the specific impacts of integrated nutrition and biofertilizer management on panicle-level traits in conventional mango cultivars remain largely unknown. The present study, conducted from 2020 to 2021 at the Fruit Research Station, JNKVV, Jabalpur, employed a Factorial Randomized Block Design (FRBD) with 27 treatment combinations to evaluate the synergistic effects of urea (0%, 2%, 4%), zinc sulfate (0%, 0.5%, 1%), and PGPR (0%, 0.5%, 1%) on panicle morphology, flower sex ratio, malformation incidence, and biomass attributes in mango cv. Langra. When 4% urea, 1% zinc sulphate, and 1% PGPR (T28: A₂B₂C₂) were applied topically, the highest ratio of hermaphrodite to male flowers (37.70), the most healthy panicles per m² (15.14), and the most fresh and dry weights of healthy panicles (37.89 g and 12.95 g, respectively) were all recorded. The same treatment, which had the lowest fresh weight of malformed panicles (45.08 g) and the fewest number of malformed panicles per m² (2.31), also showed that less biomass was being used for non-productive purposes. The improvements were thought to be due to PGPR-mediated physiological efficiency, better nutrient absorption, stronger vegetative growth, and a balance of hormones (auxin and cytokinin). Treatment effects that were statistically significant at the 5% level showed that they were accurate and reliable. The combined treatment of urea, zinc, and PGPR improved the floral biology and reproductive efficiency of mango cv. Langra by successfully changing the way biomass was divided between deformed and healthy reproductive structures. This plan has a lot of potential to sustainably increase the yields of commercial mango orchards.