Abstract
Studies were made for three consecutive years on the morphological characteristics of malformed and normal mango panicles at four developmental stages: (1) fully developed inflorescence apical bud, (2) flower bud inception, (3) fully grown panicles prior to full bloom and (4) fully developed panicles at full bloom. The malformed panicles were significantly shorter and broader than normal ones at stages (3) and (4). Normal panicles grew faster than malformed ones except after seven days of apical bud inception. The breadth and diameter of the rachis of malformed panicles showed a higher growth rate than normal panicles. The apical buds of malformed panicles had protuberances at their base but these were absent in normal panicles. The diameters of malformed flower buds and flowers were greater than normal ones. Malformed panicles had fewer hermaphrodite flowers than normal ones and possessed 1-4 ovaries per flower, rarely one; the hermaphrodite normal flowers usually had a single ovary. The greater extent of embryo degeneration in malformed panicles than in normal ones resulted in poor fruit set on such panicles. There were no differences in pollen size or viability in pollen from normal and malformed flowers.
