Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Table 4.2.
Tropical seedling fruit tree growth is normally continuous and the trees develop different growth phenomenon and branching
habits. Flowering then either becomes synchronized to vegetative growth or is more responsive to the environment (Verheij, 1986).
Branching
Vegetative growth and
fl
owering
Example
Growth characteristics
Single-stemmed
(monoaxial)
Continuous
Concurrent
Papaya, coconut
Constant growth and concurrent
fl
oral development,
stable number of leaves thus a constant top to root
ratio. Improvement via altered growing techniques
(nutrients, water) to maintain high growth rate.
Terminal
Banana, pineapple
Supported by current photosynthesis. Suboptimal
growing conditions postpone
fl
owering.
Improvement via altered growing techniques
(nutrients, water) to maintain high growth rate.
Equidistant planting patterns frequently used in
single or double row.
Branched
(polyaxial)
Flushes
Concurrent
Passion
fl
ower
Rapid, continuous shoot growth and concurrent
fl
owering, rectangular planting patterns.
Separate in loci
Avocado, durian, mango,
Annona
spp., soursop,
jackfruit, abiu, lanson
Rhythmic growth. Major competition between
intermittent vegetative growth and
fl
owering.
Synchronous vegetative growth with almost
simultaneous
fl
owering and fruiting, feedback
