Nitrogen triggers floriferous flush in strawberry guava (Psidium cattleianum)
2004
Normand, Frédéric | Michels, Thierry
Empirical observation seemed to indicate that NPK fertilisation induced a rapid floriferous flush in strawberry guava (Psidium cattleianum), modifying thus its natural phenological cycle. Factors affecting the plant response to fertilisation have been investigated: identification of the nutrient(s) responsible for the flush; effect of the amount of fertiliser and of the plant phenological stage. A complete NPK fertilisation is followed after 30 to 50 days by the emergence of a floriferous flush. Nitrogen was the trigger of this flush, enhancing the rate of flushing branches. The amount of fertiliser or the leaf nitrogen content had no effect on the flush characteristics. The phenological stage had a strong influence on the plant response, with a more intense and less variable flush when fertilisation was applied after a 3 months resting period than just after a harvest. This suggested that the carbohydrate availability was involved in the plant response, in particular its floriferous status. The possibility of triggering production cycles by nitrogen has interesting agronomic consequences, such as off-season production.(Résumé d'auteur)
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