Effect of high temperatures on fruit drop and spongy tissue in Alphonso mango.
Salvi B. R., Damodhar V. P., Mahaldar S. R., Munj A. Y.
Author Affiliation: Regional Fruit Research Station, Vengurle - 416 516, India.
Annals of Plant Physiology 27 : 5-10
Abstract : In Konkan region of Maharashtra during the year 2010 the unfavorable climatic conditions prevailed; particularly sudden rise in temperature was experienced which resulted into sunstroke to mango fruits. This happened during February, March and April. During the 5th meteorological week, the higher temperature reached to 37°C and subsequently reduced to 35°C from 6th meteorological week to 13th meteorological week. The 14th meteorological week observed sudden rise in temperature in the range of 37°C to 43.9°C. This was 6 to 10°C deviation from the normal. This resulted in to sun scald, drying of pedicel, shrivelling of the fruits, browning and blackening of the fruit skin, cracking of immature grown up fruits and ultimately dropping of all the fruits. These dropped fruits were due to spongy tissue. Due to sudden rise in temperature at 14th MW and climate change; the humidity dropped down to 30 per cent. The severity of climate change was so high that the crop loss was up to 35 to 40 per cent. This proved that the higher temperature with fall in humidity percentage resulted into sun stroke which Alphonso mango variety could not withstand. Under such circumstances supplementary irrigation @ 200 litres per plant was recommended at weekly interval with foliar water sprays during 10.00 hours to 16.00 hours of the day. This helped to increase the humidity and reduce the fruit drop. Similarly, grass mulching with 10 cm thick layer in addition to irrigation was recommended where the Alphonso mango plantations are on hard laterite rock.