Articles
Mango production in Sicily, Italy: state of the art and future perspectives
Article number
1415_7
Pages
61 – 68
Language
English
Abstract
The cultivation of mango has moved to further latitudes from the equator in the last decades, gaining ground in new producing countries.
In Italy, the largest surfaces dedicated to mango are found in the island of Sicily.
The pedo-climatic conditions of some parts of the island proved favorable to the growth of the species and the product is appreciated by the European markets due to its advanced ripening degree at harvest and to the smaller environmental cost of the supply process.
Mango in Sicily encounters climatic conditions that are suitable for the reproductive process during the Mediterranean summer but is limited by the often unpredictable winter weather events.
Here, we present a summary of the results of studies that were conducted over a three-year period on plants of cultivars ‘Tommy Atkins’, ‘Keitt’, ‘Osteen’, ‘Glenn’ and ‘Maya’, grown in the open field.
The phenology of the plants in the open field turned out to be significantly different than the one observed in the tropical regions, with vegetative development limited by the fact that harvest happens just before the onset of the cold season.
Flowering-inductive temperatures occur for as long as three months: however, fruit set percentages, as a consequence of the effect of temperature on the pollen germination and viability were found to be smaller than in the tropical producing areas.
The limited vegetative development of the mango plants allows for an easier management of the canopy and for the cultivation in protection systems: these are a valid help in protecting the plants from endemic diseases such as the bacterial apical necrosis, whose spread was reduced by the presence of shading nets and windshields.
Sunburn is the most dangerous threat for fruits in the summer.
In Italy, the largest surfaces dedicated to mango are found in the island of Sicily.
The pedo-climatic conditions of some parts of the island proved favorable to the growth of the species and the product is appreciated by the European markets due to its advanced ripening degree at harvest and to the smaller environmental cost of the supply process.
Mango in Sicily encounters climatic conditions that are suitable for the reproductive process during the Mediterranean summer but is limited by the often unpredictable winter weather events.
Here, we present a summary of the results of studies that were conducted over a three-year period on plants of cultivars ‘Tommy Atkins’, ‘Keitt’, ‘Osteen’, ‘Glenn’ and ‘Maya’, grown in the open field.
The phenology of the plants in the open field turned out to be significantly different than the one observed in the tropical regions, with vegetative development limited by the fact that harvest happens just before the onset of the cold season.
Flowering-inductive temperatures occur for as long as three months: however, fruit set percentages, as a consequence of the effect of temperature on the pollen germination and viability were found to be smaller than in the tropical producing areas.
The limited vegetative development of the mango plants allows for an easier management of the canopy and for the cultivation in protection systems: these are a valid help in protecting the plants from endemic diseases such as the bacterial apical necrosis, whose spread was reduced by the presence of shading nets and windshields.
Sunburn is the most dangerous threat for fruits in the summer.
Publication
Authors
D. Scuderi, I. Tinebra, R. Passafiume, G. Gugliuzza, V. Farina
Keywords
Mediterranean basin, Mangifera indica, phenology, bacterial apical necrosis, sunburn
Groups involved
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