Effect of summer pruning and GA3 spraying on inducing flowering and fruiting of Zebda mango trees.
Shaban A. E. A.
Author Affiliation: Pomology Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt.
World Journal of Agricultural Sciences 5 : 337-344
Abstract : This study was carried out to evaluate the effect of summer pruning and GA3 spraying after fruit setting in the on year on inducing flowering and yield in the off year season of mango cv Zebda. Trees were subjected to the following pruning treatments, light, moderate and severe pruning. Pruning treatments were done after fruit setting during the last week of May in 2005 and 2006 seasons. Trees were sprayed immediately after pruning with GA3 at 0, 25, 50 or 100 ppm. The highest number of new flushes per shoots was achieved with severe pruning and spraying GA3 at 100 ppm. Moderate pruning with GA3 at 100 ppm was the most effective treatment for increasing length of new flushes and recorded the highest number of leaves per flush. Severe pruning and application of GA3 at 50 ppm gave the maximum number of panicles per shoot. The longest panicle resulted from moderate pruning and GA3 at 100 ppm. Severe pruning treatment with either GA3 concentrations was the most effective for increasing number of fruits per tree. The highest fruit weight was recorded with moderate pruning without spraying GA3. Moderate pruning and GA3 at 50 ppm proved to be the most effective treatment for improving yield of Zebda mango trees in the off-year season.