Flowering synchronization of Sensation mango trees by chemical inflorescence removal.
Oosthuyse S. A., Jacobs G.
Author Affiliation: Horticultural Science, University of Stellenbosch, Stellenbosch 7600, South Africa.
Yearbook - South African Mango Growers' Association 17 : 53-56
Abstract : Sensation mango trees grown in the Northern and Mpumalanga Provinces of South Africa flower unevenly. The effect of chemical inflorescence removal using dinoseb acetate (applied as Chemox at 1062 ppm in early July and August) on the synchronization of flowering in Sensation was evaluated. Comparisons were made with untreated trees, and trees whose apical buds and inflorescences were removed by hand in early July. Chemical pruning was effective in synchronizing flowering, but was slightly less so than hand pruning. Tree flowering duration was shortest and flowering most delayed in chemically pruned trees. Flowering intensity was highest in the hand pruned trees and lowest in the untreated trees. Post-flowering fruit drop was positively related to flowering intensity. Differences in tree yield were inapparent, however, due to compensatory increases in fruit size in the chemically and hand pruned trees. Chemical inflorescence removal can be employed as a measure to synchronize flowering in Sensation without a reduction in yield.