Relationship between leaf nutrient concentrations and cropping or fruit quality in mango.
Oosthuyse S. A.
Author Affiliation: HortResearch SA, P.O. Box 3849, Tzaneen 0850, South Africa.
: 1-15
Abstract : Multiple regression analysis was applied to leaf, yield and fruit analysis data obtained from each of 10 tree groups, each comprising 18 trees of a particular cultivar in an experiment in South Africa during 1996. The cultivars Zill, Tommy Atkins, Sensation, Heidi, and Kent were included. Leaf nutrient concentrations were collectively stipulated as independent variables, and yield and quality related attributes were individually stipulated as dependent variables. Leaf nutrient concentrations were often found to be of importance in the determination of yield and fruit quality attributes. In certain instances, fruit disease incidence and leaf nutrient concentrations were correlated. However, although many statistically significant and meaningful relationships were found, relationship consistency was not apparent. It is concluded that nutrient balances or quantitative associations between mineral nutrients are of real importance in the consideration of tree nutrient status. This has the implication that many quantitative associations may be conductive to the development of fruit of good quality.