Investigations on the control of fruit drop in Alphonso mango.
Shinde A. K., Patil B. P., Pujari K. H., Jadhav B. B., Chandelkar A. B., Kandalkar M. P.
Author Affiliation: Regional Fruit Research Station, Vengurle - 416 516, Maharashtra, India.
Indian Journal of Plant Physiology 11 : 93-99
Abstract : Field experiments were conducted in Maharashtra, India, from 1998 to 2002, to identify different pollenizer cultivars, control of recurring flowering and fruit drop by the use of mineral nutrients and growth regulators in mango cv. Alphonso. Results revealed that the cultivars Kesar, Ratna and Goamankur were the best pollinizers for Alphonso mango as substantiated by synchrony in flowering with Alphonso, better fruit set and acceptable fruit quality of the pollenizer. The Alphonso × Alphonso cross combination showed only 4% fruit retention, whereas Alphonso × Kesar, Alphonso × Ratna and Alphonso × Goamankur revealed 10-12% fruit retention. Therefore, plantation of 10 to 15% trees of Kesar, Ratna or Goamankur in Alphonso orchards as pollinizers was recommended. The recurring flowering emerging at the base of old flowering panicles causes heavy fruit drop from adjacent old ones. A foliar spray of GA3 (50 ppm) at the full bloom stage significantly reduced the recurring flowering in Alphonso mango. For control of flower/fruit drop in Alphonso mango, foliar spray of nutrients (urea, KNO3 and micronutrient complex) and growth regulators (NAA and triacontanol) at different concentrations were tested separately and in combination. Data revealed that 2% urea, 20 ppm NAA and 50 ppm micronutrient mixture in combination produced significantly higher fruit yield followed by combined application of urea + triacontanol + micronutrient.