ISHS Acta Horticulturae 275: International Symposium on the Culture of Subtropical and Tropical Fruits and Crops
FLOWERING IN CARAMBOLA (AVERRHOA CARAMBOLA) |
| Authors: | S. Salakpetch, D.W. Turner, B. Dell |
| Abstract:
Floral ontogeny, floral cycle and flower longevity were studied in container grown carambola trees cv Fwang Tung. In the developing flower bud sepals are formed first then five petal primordia are initiated alternately and centripetally to the sepals. About the time of sepal elongation the sequence of stamen initials, which develop into stamens and staminodes and carpel initials, which develop into the five lobed ovary, become apparent. The flower cycle of opening and closing lasts for one day. Flowers may remain on the plant, after opening, for 1 to 16 days. The flowering response of carambola cvs Thai Knight and Fwang Tung to diurnal temperature regimes (30/25, 25/20, 20/15, 30/15 and 34/20°C), photoperiods (8, 12, 14 and 16 hrs) and to water stress was observed. Diurnal temperature regime and photoperiod did not influence flower bud initiation but a leaf water potential of -2.0 MPa at midday reduced the number of flower buds to 10% of the well watered control. It appears that flowering in carambola is more strongly influenced by internal factors than by temperature or photoperiod. | |
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