Effect of soil applied paclobutrazol on fruit retention, fruit size, tree yield and tree revenue in 'Sensation' and 'Tommy Atkins' mango.
Oosthuyse S. A., Jacobs G.
Author Affiliation: Horticultural Science, University of Stellenbosch, Stellenbosch 7600, South Africa.
: 431-440
Abstract : The effects of paclobutrazol applications on fruit size in mango cv. Sensation, and on fruit retention in Tommy Atkins, were investigated in the Northern Province of South Africa. One or 10 ml of paclobutrazol (as Cultar) was diluted with water to 100 ml (0.25 or 2.50 g a.i.), and was applied to a 60-cm-diameter ring of soil around the trunk of 2-year-old trees prior to the initiation of postharvest flushing. In Sensation, the average fruit weight (final fruit size) and tree revenue increased with increasing rates of paclobutrazol applied. The number of fruits retained and yields were not affected. In Tommy Atkins, the number of fruits retained, average fruit weight, yield and tree revenue decreased with increasing rates of paclobutrazol applied.