Effect of time and severity of fruit thinning on fruit retention, fruit size, tree yield, and tree revenue in Sensation mango.
Oosthuyse S. A., Jacobs G.
Author Affiliation: Merensky Technological Services, PO Box 14, Duivelskloof 0835, South Africa.
Yearbook - South African Mango Growers' Association 15 : 34-38
Abstract : With the aim of increasing fruit size, 0, 25, 50 or 75% of inflorescences were removed at 1- or 2-week intervals, commencing at or soon after the time of initial fruit set in early Oct., from 3-year-old mango cv. Sensation trees. The fruits remaining were thinned to leave the largest one per inflorescence when differences in fruit size were apparent. One fruit was arbitrarily chosen and left when differences in fruit size were not apparent. Thinning was most effective in increasing the size of the remaining fruit when performed at or soon after initial fruit set. The number of fruits retained and yield per tree were a direct reflection of thinning severity, whereas tree revenue was strongly influenced by fruit size. Thinning before differences in fruit size were apparent resulted in a marked reduction in fruit retention and tree revenue. Thinning when differences in fruit size had just become apparent combined with the removal of half of the inflorescences per tree was most beneficial; tree revenue was more than doubled by this treatment.