References on Mango

Mouco M. A. do C., Lima M. A. C. de, Silva A. L. da, Santos S. C. A. dos, Rodrigues F. M.

Author Affiliation: UNESP Botucatu-FCA, C.P. 237, CEP 18603-970, Botucatu, SP, Brazil.
  : 437-442

Abstract : Farmers of the Submedio São Francisco region (Brazil) have been spraying amino acids on mango trees to increase panicle length and improve fruit retention and quality. Field experiments were conducted in Brazil, from June to October 2003 and January to May 2004, to test the effect of amino acid applications, at 0.0, 0.02, 0.04 and 0.06% concentration, on mango cv. Tommy Atkins, on the budding phase (panicles with 5 cm), fruit set and fruit growth (5 cm in diameter). There were no statistical differences in the first experiment among treatments regarding panicle length and fruit production, probably due to an appropriate management of nutrition, water and plant growth regulators, besides climatic conditions, mainly temperature and solar radiation. In the second experiment, significant increments in the panicle length of 13.37, 11.70 and 21.4% were observed with the different amino acid concentrations compared to the control. Increasing amino acid rates also enhanced the number of fruits per plant at 30 days before the harvest, by 16.17, 45.32 and 37.38%, respectively, compared to the control, but there were no significant statistical differences. Characteristics of fruit quality during storage, as weight loss, total soluble solids, total titratable acidity and pulp firmness, were not significantly affected by amino acid application. Changes in those variables were registered as a consequence of fruit ripening. Amino acid sprays lightly delayed the evolution of skin luminosity and °Hue of pulp, but the differences were not visually identified. The concentrations of amino acids were not efficient for improving the natural concentrations of these substances in the leaves, which could be the reason for the non-significant effects on the variables analysed.