Exploring pollinizers for enhancing productivity in 'Alphonso' mango (Mangifera indica).
Shinde A. K., Waghmare G. M., Patil B. P.
Author Affiliation: Regional Fruit Research Station, Vengurle, Maharashtra 416 516, India.
Indian Journal of Agricultural Sciences 71 : 592-594
Abstract : An experiment was conducted in Maharashtra, India, during 1998-99 and 1999-2000 to explore pollenizers for increasing the productivity in mango (Mangifera indica) cv. Alphonso. Manual pollination with 12 different pollenizer cultivars indicated that cv. Tommy Atkins, followed by Kesar, Goa Mankur and Ratna showed fruit retention rates of 16 and 17%, 8 and 14%, 10 and 13%, and 10 and 13%, respectively, during 1998-99 and 1999-2000, compared with 4% retention in both years for self pollination. Pollenizer cultivars Pairi, Osteen and Maya were promising pollen donors, showing fruit retention of 10%. The other cultivars under test were poor pollenizers, with 4 to 7.5% retention. Flowering synchrony evaluation revealed that Kesar, Goa Mankur, Vellai Kolumban, Sindhu, Ratna and Panchadarkalasha had synchronized flowering with Alphonso. However, Kesar, Goa Mankur and Ratna proved compatible as successful pollenizers, having acceptable effects on fruit quality. Field verification of the 2 pollenizer cultivars Kesar and Goa Mankur grown in an Alphonso orchard showed significant increases in the yield (84%) of Alphonso.