Effect of trifluralin on production of male bicellular cells in “Sai Num Phueng” mandarin (Citrus reticulata), calamondin (Citrofortunella mitis), and “Paen” lime (Citrus aurantifolia)

Abstract

The doubling of male cellular cells of the flowers of mandarin (cultivar "Sai Num Phueng"), calamondin, and lime (cultivar "Paen") by using different concentrations (0.05, 0.10, 0.20, and 0.40%) of trifluralin, which were directly applied to the 35-40 cm length of flush twigs, was studied. The citrus twigs, upon increasing the trifluralin concentration, produced a correspondingly high number of flowers with male bicellular cells (except calamondin that showed an opposite trend), as well as a high number of the male bicellular cells themselves. The normal and male bicellular cells, however, appeared to be similar in size.

Keywords

• Citrus reticulata
• Citrus aurantifolia
• Citrofortunella mitis
• trifluralin
• microtubules
• male bicellular cells