Long-term effects of rootstocks on growth and fruit yielding patterns of 'Alphonso' mango (Mangifera indica L.).
Reddy Y. T. N., Kurian R. M., Ramachander P. R., Gorakh Singh, Kohli R. R.
Author Affiliation: Division of Fruit Crops, Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Hessaraghatta Lake Post, Bangalore 560 089, Karnataka, India.
Scientia Horticulturae 97 : 95-108
Abstract : Results of a 21-year study on the performance of 'Alphonso' mango grafted on eight rootstocks established the influence of the rootstocks on the growth and fruit yielding patterns of 'Alphonso' scion. Nucellar seedlings of 'Muvandan' 'Bappakai' and 'Olour' were vigorous rootstocks in decreasing order of vigour, while those of 'Vellaikulamban' imparted dwarfing, in comparison with the scion grafted on its own open-pollinated zygotic seedlings. The cumulative fruit yield per tree was higher on the vigorous rootstocks, particularly 'Muvandan' and 'Olour'; the latter rootstock also resulting in early higher yields of the scion. However, the fruit yields per unit canopy volume and per unit land area were higher with the dwarfing 'Vellaikulamban' rootstock. Based on the analysis of variance and game theory analysis of growth and yield data of several years, nucellar seedlings of 'Vellaikulamban' and 'Olour' were suggested as potential rootstocks for intensive cultivation of 'Alphonso' scion. Correlation studies indicated trunk cross sectional area to be a good indicator of vigour in mango and cumulative fruit yield during the initial 16 years was highly correlated with that during the subsequent years. The bienniality parameters worked out with the yield data over a number of years suggested 'Alphonso' to be of irregular bearing nature which was controlled more by exogenous factors than endogenous ones and slightly influenced by the rootstocks.