Use of the remedial measures technique to enhance fruit quality in mango.
Oosthuyse S. A.
Author Affiliation: HortResearch SA, P.O. Box 3849, Tzaneen 0850, South Africa.
: 27-29
Abstract : The remedial measures technique was used to assess tree nutrient status adjustments necessary to generally improve the quality of fruits produced by a 'Tommy Atkins' orchard. In mid-November 1997, a leaf sample was taken from each of 30 adjacent trees in a 5-year-old 'Tommy Atkins' orchard in the Tzaneen region of South Africa, and leaf nutrient analysis was performed. At harvest in mid-January 1998, the fruits on each of the trees were removed and subjected to quality evaluations. Leaf analysis indicated deficiency in both zinc and phosphorus. The effect on fruit quality of a spray of monopotassium phosphate (1%) and zinc nitrate (150 ml/100 l), carried out during the flowering period in August-September 1998, was assessed. Fruit quality produced by trees treated with the fertilizers was significantly improved. Quality status was assessed on the basis of ground skin coloration, taste and physiological disorder incidence during ripening.