The use of growth regulators and water stress are important practices for the induction of flowering and production of mango in tropical areas. Flowering and fruit production of mango trees cv. Tommy Atkins were evaluated in semi-arid area of Northeast Brazil, in response to paclobutrazol applications (PBZ) to the soil (2 mL of a.i./plant), under irrigation, and to the leaves in different doses (0.5 and 1 mL of a.i. in one applicaqtion and split into two fractions), without irrigation, besides the control (one foliar application of water followed by water stress). The variables were evaluated in three different times after the application of PBZ (68 to 91, 131 to 179 and 190 to 216 days to the percentage of flowering per plant; and 180 to 203, 267 to 287 and 299 to 337 days to the number of fruits and production per plant. Results indicated that the water stress imposed to the plants without PBZ applications was as efficient in flowering induction and fruit production of mango trees as were the applications of PBZ to the soil, using irrigation, and to leaves, without irrigation. The second evaluation time was superior to the first and third times in flowering and production per plant. The PBZ application in soil advanced in 23 days the flowering of plant in the second time in relation to the application of water stress. The work proposes that the water stress has potential to flowering induction and may replace the stress caused by PBZ application in mango trees under tropical semi-arid conditions.
Mangifera indica; PBZ; growth inhibitor
