Effect of paclobutrazol and severe pruning on mango trees cv. Tommy Atkins at high densities.
Medina-Urrutia V.
Author Affiliation: INIFAP-Campo Experimental Tecomán, Apartado Postal #88, CP 28100, Tecomán, Colima, Mexico.
Proceedings of the Florida State Horticultural Society : 364-368
Abstract : Experiments were conducted in 1992-94 in a mango (cv. Tommy Atkins) orchard with a planting density of 4 × 4 m at Tecomán, Mexico. In the first experiment, initiated in July 1992, 3.8 m-high trees were untreated, given a soil drench of Triazol (TZ, paclobutrazol), severely pruned to 2.0, 2.5 or 3.0 m, pruned to 2.5 or 3.0 m and given foliar or soil-drench applications of paclobutrazol, or given a soil-drench application of TZ alone. In the second experiment, the effects of different application dates of foliar or soil TZ treatments on severely-pruned trees were evaluated. Experiment 3 was carried out to evaluate different dates of soil TZ applications. In experiment 1, TZ soil applications, with or without pruning, increased yield by 2.5 to 3.3 times compared to control trees. TZ soil application also significantly increased flowering in January and early season fruit production compared to the other treatments. Yield was markedly reduced by severe pruning (branches of 3.7 to 4.7 cm of diameter) in September 1993 in all treatments in experiment 2. In experiment 3, soil TZ application in February increased yield by 12.6 t/ha over control trees. TZ soil applications reduced mango tree size by 30-40% in relation to control trees.