The effects of day/night temperatures on growth and dry matter production of custard apple (Annona cherimola x Annona squamosa) cultivar 'African Pride'

In custard apple, increasing day/night temperatures (17/12, 22/17, 27/22, 32/27°C) increased dry matter production, vegetative flushing, leaf size, leaf number, specific leaf weight and stem diameter. The dry weight leaf/root ratio increased by approximately a factor of two between the lowest and highest temperature treatments. Strong vegetative flushing at the highest temperature treatment was shown to adversely affect the number of floral buds produced, suggesting that tropical conditions may not be conducive to high fruit production.