Document Type : Research Paper
Authors
1 Research Instructor of Forest Research Division, Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands, Tehran, Iran
2 Iranshahr Agricultural and Natural Resources Research Center, Iran
3 Research Instructor, Hormozgan Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, Iran
Abstract
Phenological stages of Moringa peregrina (Forssk.) Fiori. was studied in the southeast of Iran during 2008 to 2011. This study was carried out in six regions of Hormozgan and Balochestan provinces. Three trees were marked in each site and monitored every 15 days. Phenological stages included the time of bud break, flowering, fruiting, ripening, fruit and leaf shedding, and several other characteristics. The results of phenological and meteorological data indicated that the growth patterns of M. peregrina might alter with annual temperatur, fluctuations of drought and precipitation. M. peregrina is an evergreen plant and its growth is started when proper temperature and enough humidity are available. Leaf buds begin to sprout and primary leaves appear in January. These leaves are short-lived and start to fall in May when the temperature gets warm. White and pink flowers appear in February and March. Pod-like and green fruits appear on young branches in April and May. Fruit ripening starts simultaneously with maturity stage in July and seeds begin to fall out in August. Petiole falling starts simultaneously with fruit development and drought occurance from late May to late June. Dormancy period is followed by August and continues until November. Rainfall during the flowering stage induces the flowers not to inoculate, and other phonological phases are affected. Results from different sites showed that the phenological stages of Moringa peregrina might be altered with aspect, altitude and latitude, but in all conditions, the minimum growth degree days (G.D.D) required for ripening seed should not be less than 2470°C.
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