Flowering and fruiting phenology of selected mango (Mangifera indica L.) varieties in West Garo Hills of Meghalaya

Abstract

Phenological stages of reproductive growth of three mango varieties viz., Amrapali, Dashehari and Kesar were observed in the years 2017 and 2018 at the instructional Farm of the department of Rural Development and Agricultural Production (RDAP) of North Eastern Hill University, Tura Campus, West Garo Hills District, Meghalaya, India, using the extended BBCH (Biologische Bundesantalt Bundessortenamt and Chemische Industrie) scale for mango proposed by Hernandez Delgado and his coworkers in 2010. The dates of occurrence of the principal stages of inflorescence emergence (stage 5), flowering (stage 6) and fruit development (stage 7) and the duration for transition from one phenological stage to the next were recorded. Completion of inflorescence emergence (stages 510-519) in variety Amrapali was noted in 25-58 days, in variety Dashehari in 27-58 days and in variety Kesar in 22-74 days. Flowering period (stages 610-619) lasted for 14-38 days in variety Dashehari, 15-36 days in Kesar and 15-44 days in Amrapali. The shortest fruit development period (stages 701-709) was noticed in Dashehari (98-127 days) followed by Amrapali (103-138days) and Kesar (106-142days). The data on time required for transition from one phenological stage to the next, of the principal stages of inflorescence emergence, flowering and fruit development, can help in advance planning and implementation of plant protection measures, growth regulator treatments, manure or fertilizer treatments and harvesting of a variety in a particular agro-climatic condition, which ultimately influence the productivity of a variety.