Glossary

Floral induction is the physiological process that makes a developing bud capable of following a flowering pathway rather than only vegetative growth. In mangoes, temperature, shoot age, tree condition, and environmental history interact, with differences between tropical and subtropical production. Visible flowers appear later, so the process cannot be judged only on the day a panicle emerges. It is not synonymous with applying a chemical, and stressing a weak tree does not reliably create a productive bloom.