Effect of soil boron application on gummosis and leaf boron content of mango (Mangifera indica L.) cvs. Khieo Sawoei and Nam Dok Mai.
Nartvaranant P., Subhadrabandhu S., Whiley A. W.
Author Affiliation: Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand.
: 875-879
Abstract : Boron (B) deficiency is a widespread and common nutrient disorder of agricultural and forestry crops in Thailand. To correct B deficiency in mangoes (Mangifera indica), a study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of soil application in raising leaf B concentrations in two cultivars, Khieo Sawoei and Nam Dok Mai in Thailand during 1998. Borax (11% B) was applied to the soil beneath trees at 0, 15, 20, 25 g m-1 of canopy diameter (split into three applications). When B applications were given in the summer (wet season) the response was rapid, with leaf concentrations increasing by 93.6 and 75.6% at the highest rate for 'Khieo Sawoei' and 'Nam Dok Mai', respectively, 5 months after treatment. There was no evidence of phytotoxicity. Gummosis, a condition of resin ooze from splits that develop on major limbs and trunks in B deficient trees, decreased in 'Khieo Sawoei' trees that received borax at either 20 or 25 g m-1 of canopy diameter.