Early removal of mango inflorescences increase tree production and fruit quality (Mangifera indica L. cv. ‘Tommy Atkins’)

Abstract

The present investigation was carried out throughout the two successive seasons 2018 and 2019. Mango trees were grown in a private farm located at Wadi Elmullak El-Sharkia Governorate, Egypt. This study aimed to elucidate the impact of pinching early flowering in the winter severity on tree yield and fruit quality of Mango ‘Tommy Atkins’ cultivar. The old of the mango cultivar under this study was 15 years old and planted as 3x4 m apart grafted on ‘Saber’ seedling rootstocks, grown in sandy soil and irrigated through drip irrigation system. Mango trees were subjected to deinflorescence in mid-February by manual removing emerged inflorescence as follows complete removing (removing of 100% of emerging inflorescences), sever removing (75% of emerging inflorescences), moderated removing (50% of emerging inflorescences), light removing (25% of emerging inflorescences) and control (without removing inflorescences). Results showed that complete removing treatment significantly increased fruit yield as compared with other applications or untreated trees in the two studied seasons. Similar trend was observed regarding yield increment (%) where was superior to control treatment in the two seasons. Moderated and light treatments caused enhancement in some fruit physical properties when compared with 100% or 75% removal treatments. Complete removing treatment was superior to other treatments regarding total acidity percentage and vitamin C. In conclusion complete removing (100% of emerging inflorescences) in mid- Feb. could be a practicable choice for continued production for the ‘Tommy Atkins’ under the environmental conditions of exported mango orchards