Advances in understanding mango tree growth and canopy development

Description

The mango tree canopy acts not only as a carbohydrate factory, through photosynthesis, and as a support for reproduction; it is also the place where vegetative growth occurs and the tree develops. The spatial and temporal proximity of vegetative and reproductive growth in the mango tree canopy leads to complex interactions. This chapter reviews the current state of knowledge on vegetative growth and deciphers these interactions, in order to inform more efficiently cultivation practices and future research. It presents the architectural model of the mango tree. The basic structural entity, the growth unit, is then defined and its morphology, growth and development are reviewed. The chapter then discusses the relationships between the growth unit and canopy development, along with the effects of environmental and endogenous factors on tree phenology. Finally, the interactions between vegetative and reproductive growth are described, leading to a complex picture of the mango tree canopy.

Table of contents

1 Introduction 2 Mango tree architecture 3 Morphology of the mango growth unit 4 Growth and development of the mango growth unit 5 From the growth unit to the current-year branch 6 Interactions between vegetative growth and reproduction 7 Conclusion 8 Where to look for further information 9 References