Fruit thinning intensities and their impact on the yield and quality of 'sensation' mango (Mangifera indica) trees.
Yeshitela T., Robertse P. J., Stassen P. J. C., Grimbeek J., Linde M. van der
Author Affiliation: Department of Plant Sciences, Alemaya University, P.O. Box 165, Dire Dawa, Ethiopia.
Orissa Journal of Horticulture 31 : 98-104
Abstract : Four different fruit thinning methods were tested in South Africa, in October 2001 before the occurrence of natural fruit drop. Treatments comprised: control (unthinned trees); thinning the fruit load to one fruit per panicle; one fruit per panicle and removing 50% of the panicles; two fruits per panicle; and two fruits per panicle and removing 50% of the panicles. Different fruit parameters (both qualitative and quantitative) were measured and the results compared among treatments as well as to that of the control. The results showed that where fruits on 'Sensation' mango panicles were thinned to two fruits per panicle, a significant difference was obtained for most of the quantitative parameters. The fruits of the treatment where one fruit per panicle was retained and 50% panicles removed produced the best results for most of the qualitative parameters.