Business Opportunities in Agriculture: 150 Field Interviews (Book)

Paclobutrazol for mango

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raju12

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Flowering and Fruiting in Mangoes in the Top End with Paclobutrazol

The profitability of growing mango is influenced by two key factors:

•Productivity, which consists of yield and quality.

•Supply and demand which rule market prices.


Top End mangoes are the earliest to reach domestic markets and therefore attract a premium price. However, as Queensland mangoes reach the
market, prices fall steeply. Besides, the onset of the wet season increases the incidence of pests and diseases, which lower fruit quality. The manipulation of fruit maturity in favour of an early harvest would therefore be of great value to growers.

FLOWERING AND ITS MANIPULATION

Flower initiation is very important because it is the first step towards attaining fruit. Recent trials have clearly shown that while the extent (quantity) of flowering affects yields, time of flower emergence has a significant influence on time of fruit maturity.Early flowering clearly resulted in early fruit maturity

Unfortunately, our commercial variety, Kensington Pride, does not flower regularly year after year. Flowering is also staggered, leading to considerable variation in fruit maturity. The induction of regular, profuse, early and uniform flowering will undoubtedly ensure higher yields and better returns to the grower.

THE EFFECTS OF PACLOBUTRAZOL

One method to manipulate flowering is to use the plant growth regulator, paclobutrazol. The post- harvest application of a small amount of paclobutrazol to the soil significantly promotes flowering and fruiting in the
following year. Trials over the last two years have shown the following benefits from the treatment:

•A significant increase in flowering leading to increased yields.

•The early flowering considerably enhanced fruit maturity. Treated trees flowered three to four weeks early, which reduced the time to fruit maturity by at least two weeks.

•Visually, the fruit developed a better external colour.
 

Business Opportunities in Agriculture: 150 Field Interviews (Book)

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