Intervarietal hybridization in mango (Mangifera indica L.): techniques, main results and their limitations.
Pinto A. C. Q., Andrade S. R. M., Ramos V. H. V., Cordeiro M. C. R.
Author Affiliation: Embrapa Cerrados, Km 18 Br 020, 73301-970, Planaltina, DF, Brazil.
: 327-330
Abstract : A new breeding programme which has 5 phases (introduction, evaluation and selection of cultivars; intervarietal hybridization; first selection and field evaluation of progenies; field evaluation of progeny in different regions; and fruit market evaluation and cultivar release) was tested. Improvements to the technique include: perforating bags to enclose panicles, maintenance of male flowers under different shade conditions to synchronize anther opening, fungicide spraying on pollinated flowers (panicles), panicle labelling and hybrid fruit bagging. Pollination of a maximum of 15 selected flowers per panicle with the 1:3 ratio of anther:pistil, floral induction of top-worked cultivars, caging top-worked cultivars with flies (as pollinators) and wet chicken manure, and tagging and bagging fruits, were performed. Approximately 16 were selected out of 78 cultivars of the elite collection, which were used to establish the parental groups. Improvement to the technique increased fruit set to 6.0%, promoting the enlargement of the hybrid population and shortening of cultivar release. Caging of top-worked cultivars resulted in a higher number of pollinated flowers than that obtained by hand pollination. Caging technique and floral induction were essential for the polycross method. Tagging and bagging fruits gave 100% of crossing assurance. Out of 2088 seedlings established in the field, 209 were selected in the first year. Of these 209 seedlings, 42 were selected as promising materials and 4 of them have been released as cultivars: Alfa, Beta, Roxa and Lita.