Pruning management in 'Alphonso' mango (Mangifera indica) for sustainability of fruit yield.
Shinde A. K., Patil B. P., Pujari K. H., Godse S. K.
Author Affiliation: Regional Fruit Research Station, Dr Balasaheb Sawant Konkan Krishi Vidyapeeth, Vengurle, Maharashtra 416 516, India.
Indian Journal of Agricultural Sciences 73 : 641-644
Abstract : The effects of pruning on the fruit yield of 35-year-old mango cv. Alphonso trees were evaluated during 1998-2002 in Vengurle, Maharashtra, India. The treatments comprised 3 pruning methods (heading back of branches at 50 cm level on entire tree, heading back of branches at 50 cm level on alternate limbs of the tree and thinning of overcrowded branches and centre opening), 2 pruning times (at fruit harvest and during the rest period), and 2 levels of paclobutrazol (PP333, 0 and 0.75 g a.i./m of canopy diameter). Light pruning (50 cm heading back of branches on entire tree or alternate limbs) or centre opening and thinning of branches during the rest period supplemented with paclobutrazol at 0.75 g a.i./m of canopy diameter resulted in uniform vegetative growth, profuse flowering and enhanced fruiting of mango trees. Centre opening and branch thinning during the rest period and application of paclobutrazol caused more light penetration (690 Lux) inside the tree canopy, inducing more number of shoots (54) inside the tree canopy greater shoot dry weight (14.7 g) and reduced hopper incidence (0-1/panicle), which resulted in profuse flowering (63.8%) and fruiting (172.6 fruits). This treatment combination also recorded the highest mean fruit yield of 43.3 kg/tree, followed by heading back of branches on alternate limbs and entire tree during the rest period with paclobutrazol treatment (43.2 and 39.9 kg/tree, respectively).