Assessment and selection of flowering inducers to increase productivity of mango cv. Ataulfo (Mangifera indica L.)

Abstract

Objective: To assess new flowering inducers used to increase the fruit yield in mango cv. Ataulfo trees, to substitute paclobutrazol. Design/methodology/approach: Ten-year-old mango cv. Ataulfo trees were used, homogeneous in terms of health. The treatments evaluated were prohexadione calcium, cytokinins, itaconic acid, phosphonitrate, potassium nitrate and paclobutrazol. The experimental design was completely random blocks with five repetitions; each experimental unit and repetition consisted of one tree. The number of inflorescences, percentage of flowering, number of fruits, fruit yield by hectare, and profitability of treatments were assessed. The data were analyzed through ANOVA and Tukey’s means comparison (p<0.05). Results: There were no significant effects of the treatments for number of inflorescences, percentage of flowering, and number of fruits; however, the homogeneous formation of inflorescences was found with itaconic acid. Prohexadione calcium (P-Ca) presented the highest fruit yield (19.32 t ha-1), but it does not differ from paclobutrazol (10.34 t ha-1). The highest profitability of the crop was obtained with prohexadione calcium, in which for each peso invested the amount of $1.51 was recovered. Findings/conclusions: Prohexadione calcium can be an alternative for the use of paclobutrazol to induce flowering and increase the fruit yield of mango cv. Ataulfo in the Coast of Guerrero.