Abstract

REBOLLEDO-MARTINEZ, Andrés; DEL ANGEL-PEREZ, Ana Lid  and  REY MORENO, José. EFFECTS OF PACLOBUTRAZOL AND KNO₃ OVER FLOWERING AND FRUIT QUALITY IN TWO CULTIVARS OF MANGO MANILAEFECTO DEL PACLOBUTRAZOL Y KNO₃ SOBRE LA FLORACIÓN Y CALIDAD DE FRUTO EN DOS CULTIVARES DE MANGO MANILA. INCI [online]. 2008, vol.33, n.7, pp.523-527. ISSN 0378-1844.

Different doses of Paclobutrazol (PBZ) combined with KNO₃ were evaluated in order to determine their effect on flowering and fruit quality on two mango clones. The experiment was carried out at the INIFAP’s Cotaxtla Experimental Station in Veracruz, Mexico. A 14-year old orchard of Manila Cotaxtla 1 and Manila Cotaxtla 2 clones planted in 8×8m plots without irrigation was used. The experimental design was of random blocks in split plots. The eight treatments applied were: a) 0.0, b) 0.5, c) 1.0, d) 1.5, e) 2.0g a.i. PBZ per meter of canopy diameter, all combined with the application of 2% KNO₃, f) 4% KNO₃ without PBZ, g) 1.5g. a.i. PBZ, without KNO₃, and h) control with neither product added. PBZ was applied on the soil and KNO₃ in two applications on the foliage. The variables considered were number of panicles, fruit weight, fruit weight loss, total soluble solids (TSS), titratable acidity (TA) and firmness. PBZ and KNO₃ application induced a larger number of advanced panicles in relation to the control, with higher values observed as PBZ dose increased. However, in total flowering there was no significant difference between treatments (p<0.05). PBZ did not have negative effects in the quality of fruit of neither cultivar. The treatments with higher doses of PBZ had higher content of TSS, less TA, less firmness and greater weight loss. Both cultivars were different in TA of the ripe fruits.

Keywords : Mangifera indica L. ; Growth Regulation ; Flowering Induction ; Forced Flowering ; PBZ .