Improvement of mango (Mangifera indica) for regular and early fruiting in Andaman.
Singh D. B.
Author Affiliation: Central Agricultural Research Institute, Port Blair, Andaman and Nicobar Islands 744 101, India.
Indian Journal of Agricultural Sciences 72 : 631-634
Abstract : The genetic variation among 36 early- and regular-bearing clones of mango (M. indica) from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India, were studied during 1997-99. The genetic and phenotypic coefficients of variance, heritability, genetic advance, and coefficient of correlation were estimated for weight of fruit, length and breadth of fruit, total soluble solids (TSS), acidity, and stone and pulp weight. Significant variability, characterized by high broad sense heritability and low to moderate genetic variance, was observed among the clones for all characters. The length (98.4%) and breadth (99.5%) of fruit, and weight of fruit (99.4%) and pulp (90.0%) had the highest estimates of broad sense heritability and expected genetic advance. Fruit weight, length, and breadth were effective selection indices. Four clones (6-1-3a, 6-1-7, 6-4,6a, and 6-3-1-2) grafted on local rootstocks were evaluated in the field for flowering and fruiting. Clones 6-1-3a and 6-3-1-2 exhibited regular and early bearing (before the onset of monsoon) and gave maximum yields (90 kg and 42 kg per tree), TSS (11.2 and 11.0°brix), vitamin C (30.5 and 28.5 mg/100 g), and vitamin A (421.0 and 694.25 µg/100 g).