Chemical pruning and induction of panicles in mango (Mangifera indica L.).
Shu Z. H.
Author Affiliation: Fengshan Tropical Horticultural Experimental Station, TARI, Fengshan, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
: 199-205
Abstract : The chemical pruning agents cycloheximide, dinoseb and pentachlorophenol (PCP) were used to kill the vegetative apex and minimize the labour in hand fruit thinning of 8-year-old mango cv. Haden trees. The optimum concentrations of these 3 chemicals to kill the shoot apex were 0.25 mg/litre, 0.5 ml/litre and 5 g/litre, respectively. This took 9.5, 6.5 and 10.5 days respectively with 5- to 7-cm-long panicles, or 10.7, 7.7 and 11.2 days respectively with 15-cm-long panicles. A further 2 weeks was needed for the axillary shoots to reach 0.5 cm in length. The side-effects of using a chemical pruning agent are discussed together with the possible measures necessary to minimize unwanted damage.