Preliminary studies on fruit-set of mango cultivar Tommy Atkins under greenhouse cultivation in the Canary Islands.
Galán Saúco V., Fernández Galván D., Hernández Conde J. C., Morales Navarro A.
Author Affiliation: Depto. Fruticultura Tropical, I.C.I.A., Apartado 60, La Laguna, 38200 Tenerife, Canary Islands.
: 530-537
Abstract : Greenhouse cultivation of mangos is of interest in the Canary Islands as it reduces initial bearing time, improves yield, and produces early-season fruit. Preliminary observations showed unusually low fruit-set, probably due to the lack of pollinating vectors in the closed environment of the greenhouses. During 1994-95, the extent to which controlled introduction of insect vectors affected pollination and subsequent fruit set was investigated in Tenerife. Isolated trees of Tommy Atkins alone, and Tommy Atkins together with Torbet or Irwin were studied with or without flies and bees (Apis mellifera) as pollinators. The highest fruit set was obtained when insects were given free access, and hence when cross-pollination with pollen from Torbet and Irwin trees occurred. It is also suggested that bees are important for pollination of greenhouse-grown mangoes.