Evaluation of vegetative growth of Tomy Atkins, Kent and Keitt mango cultivars grown under Nubariya conditions.
Abourayya M. S., Kassim N. E., El-Sheikh M. H., Rakha A. M.
Author Affiliation: Technology of Horticultural Crops Dep., National Research Center, Dokki, Giza, Egypt.
Journal of Applied Sciences Research : 887-895
Abstract : The present study was conducted at orchard located at the side of Alexandria desert road (Cairo - Alexandria, Km. 140), at Nubariya region during 2007 and 2008 seasons. The three experimented mango cultivars were Tommy Atkins, Kent and Keitt. The trees of the three studied cultivars are grafted on seeded rootstocks, attained nine years old and grown in Sandy soil. Trees of all mango cvs. were planted at 3×5 meter apart and subjected to the same horticultural practices. The objective of the present study is evaluation the vegetative growth (growth flushes, length and thickness of shoot, number of leaves per shoot as well as length, width and area of leaf, chlorophyll A, B and carotenoids in the three growth cycles) of three mango cultivars Tommy Atkins, Kent and Keitt grown under Nubariya conditions. The three mango cultivars exhibited three growth cycles, spring, summer and autumn. Kent mango cv. recorded the highest percentage of growth flushes (32.31 and 30.35%) in the two seasons, while Keitt mango cv. recorded the lowest percentage (21.17 and 19.43%) in the two seasons. The summer growth cycle recorded the highest percentage (62.82 and 59.44%) in the two seasons. Meanwhile, the average of the autumn growth cycle attained the lowest percentage (3.42 and 3.28%) in two the seasons. Tommy Atkins mango cv. recorded the highest shoot length, while Kent mango cv. recorded the lowest values in the two seasons. The autumn growth cycle recorded the highest shoot length. Meanwhile the average of the summer growth cycle attained the minimum values in the two seasons. Interaction between cultivars and growth cycles showed that Tommy Atkins mango cv. in the autumn growth cycle recorded the maximum values in the two seasons. - Keitt mango cv. recorded the highest shoot thickness, while Kent mango cv. recorded the minimum value in the two studied seasons. - Tommy Atkins mango cv. had the largest number of leaves/shoot followed by Keitt mango cv. meanwhile Kent cv. had lowest number in the two studied seasons. The autumn growth cycle in the three studied cvs. exhibited the maximum value number of leaves/shoot and the summer growth cycle recorded the minimum value in the two seasons. - Tommy Atkins mango cv. was found to have largest leaf length compared to the other cvs. meanwhile the lowest value was found in Keitt mango cv. in the two seasons. - The highest value of leaf width was found in Keitt mango cv. meanwhile, the lowest value was found in Tommy Akins mango cv. in the two seasons. - The highest value of leaf area was found in Tommy Atkins compared to Keitt mango cv. which had the lowest value; Kent mango cv. had moderate values of leaf area. The autumn growth cycle in the three studied cvs. recorded the highest value of leaf area and the summer growth cycle recorded the minimum value in the two seasons. - Kent mango cv. recorded the maximum value of leaf chlorophyll (A) and Tommy Atkins mango cv. recorded the minimum value in the two seasons. - Tommy Atkins and Kent mango cvs. recorded the maximum value of leaf chlorophyll (B) content in both seasons and Keitt mango cv. recorded the minimum value in the two seasons. The autumn growth cycle recorded the maximum value.