PRE-BLOOM SHOOT TIPPING OF MANGO. INFLUENCE ON YIELD, FRUIT SIZE AND QUALITY

Under Spanish mainland growing conditions shoot tipping, about 6-8 weeks before full bloom, induces in most cultivars flower buds under the cut, a later bloom and better fruit set and yield in cool springs.
A two year trial was done with mature trees of early (Kensington), mid season (Kent) and late (Keitt) ripening cultivars.
Two tipping dates were compared in the first year, 18 and 25 March.
External shoots were cut 15-25 cm from the apex with the aid of a machete.
Only trees with a high percentage of flower buds (“on” year) were used.
The after effects were studied in the second year when no trees were pruned.
In Kensington early pruning slightly reduced yield per unit canopy volume (tree efficiency) and alternate cropping.
Mean fruit weight and quality were not affected.
Pruning, specially at the later date, of Kent significantly increased tree efficiency over the two year period.
Mean fruit size was negatively correlated with tree efficiency and positively with internal breakdown.
Keitt pruning increased tree efficiency about 10% reducing mean fruit size from 547 g to 389 g in the “on” year, greatly increasing its market value.
In the “off” year tree efficiency was very low, especially on pruned trees.
This strongly increased mean fruit weight of pruned and unpruned trees to over 1 kg, drastically reducing its market value.
Under the experimental conditions prebloom shoot tipping in the “on” year and early fruit elimination in the “off” year could increase crop value in Keitt but not in Kensington.
Kent should be further studied.

VIII International Mango Symposium

M.D. Torres, E. Guirado, J.M. Farré, J.M. Hermoso

mango, shoot tipping, yield, quality

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2009.820.46