Growth of the first vegetative flush of 'Nam Dok Mai' and 'Rad' mangoes after pruning of two and three previous season flushes back.
Kaewnate O., Phavaphutanon L., Krisanapook K.
Author Affiliation: Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture, Kasetsart University, Kamphaeng Saen Campus, Nakorn Pathom 73140, Thailand.
: 470-477
Abstract : An experiment was conducted in Thailand to determine the effect of pruning depth on the growth of the first vegetative flush of mango cultivars Nam Dok Mai and Rad. Previous season shoots of Nam Dok Mai and Rad mango trees were pruned two or three flushes back after harvesting and growth of the first vegetative flush was consequently monitored. The vegetative buds of both cultivars broke within 1-3 weeks after pruning. Time to budbreak and the number of new shoots per pruned branch in both cultivars was comparable between the two pruning depths. Rad had greater dry weight and length of new shoots than Nam Dok Mai. Pruning three flushes back increased the new shoot dry weight in both cultivars, but increased shoot length only in Rad compared with pruning two flushes back. Both pruning depths did not affect the number of leaves per new shoot, diameter of new shoot, leaf area, leaf dry weight and specific leaf area of both cultivars. A correlation was observed between the diameter of previous season branches and the diameter of new shoots.