Climatic effects on flowering, fruit set and quality of citrus – A review
Weather and genetics have the strongest impact on reproductive response of citrus. Flowering is primarily determined by the amount of cool temperatures and/or drought as well as previous crop load and amount of year-old flush. Citrus in many locations in the Americas responds to both cool temperatures and drought in establishing the flowering level for the next season. Some major factors involved in regulation of fruit set are temperatures, evapotranspiration balance against available soil moisture, and competition with growth amongst fruit and vegetative flush.