Paclobutrazol and branch tip pruning on the flowering induction and quality of mango tree fruits

Girlaine Pereira Oliveira,Paulo Roberto Cecon,Daniel Lucas Magalhães Machado,Dalmo Lopes De Siqueira,Luiz Carlos Chamhum Salomão

doi:10.1590/1983-40632016v4743861

Girlaine Pereira Oliveira, Paulo Roberto Cecon + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1590/1983-40632016v4743861

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Abstract

ABSTRACT The 'Ubá' mango tree cultivar is very important for the juice industry in the "Zona da Mata" region of the Minas Gerais State, in Brazil, but problems such as uneven flowering and low yield have discouraged producers. This study aimed at evaluating the effect of paclobutrazol, combined with branch tip pruning, on the flowering induction and quality of 'Ubá' mango tree fruits. Treatments were distributed in a 5 x 2 + 1 factorial arrangement, consisting of five paclobutrazol doses (0 g, 0.50 g, 1.00 g, 1.50 g and 2.0 g per linear meter of canopy), with and without branch tip pruning, in a randomized blocks design, with four replicates. The flowering percentage, number of panicles per branch, total flowers per panicle, male/hermaphrodite flowers ratio, number of fruits per branch and fruit quality were evaluated. Plants treated with tip pruning showed a higher flowering percentage. There was an increase in the flowering percentage in response to the paclobutrazol dose, reaching a maximum level at the dose of 1.62 g per linear meter of canopy. Plants submitted to branch tip pruning had a higher number of panicles per branch. There was an increase in the male/hermaphrodite flowers ratio with increasing paclobutrazol doses. Branch tip pruning increased the number of fruits per branch. There were no differences in fruit quality in response to the paclobutrazol application. It was concluded that the paclobutrazol application at the dose of 1.62 g per linear meter of canopy, combined with branch tip pruning, increases the flowering of the 'Ubá' mango tree and does not change the fruit quality.

Highlights

The ‘Ubá’ mango cultivar shows characteristics desirable to industrial processing in the “Zona da Mata” region of the Minas Gerais State, in Brazil, due to its attractive pulp color, high soluble solids contents and excellent flavor, which make its juice appreciated by consumers (Silva et al 2012, Oliveira et al 2013)
This study aimed at evaluating the effect of paclobutrazol doses combined with branch tip pruning on the flowering induction and quality of ‘Ubá’ mango tree fruits
This study shows promising results on flowering induction, further studies with paclobutrazol should be carried out, in order to evaluate the continuous effect of this growth regulator on ‘Ubá’ mango tree cultivation

Summary

Introduction

The ‘Ubá’ mango cultivar shows characteristics desirable to industrial processing in the “Zona da Mata” region of the Minas Gerais State, in Brazil, due to its attractive pulp color, high soluble solids contents and excellent flavor, which make its juice appreciated by consumers (Silva et al 2012, Oliveira et al 2013). At a time, leading to an uneven fruit maturation and resulting in a sequential harvest (Silva et al 2012), increasing production costs. The use of growth regulators is a common practice in mango cultivation under semi-arid conditions, mainly with ‘Tommy Atkins’ and ‘Palmer’ cultivars, for which doses, times and forms of application have been defined as part of technologies to increase flowering and production (Mouco & Albuquerque 2005, Mouco et al 2010, Coelho et al 2014, Oliveira et al 2015). Paclobutrazol acts by reducing the gibberellins biosynthesis (Taiz & Zeiger 2012), contributing to inhibit branch growth (Mouco et al 2011), promoting bud maturation and favoring flowering (Davenport 2007)

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