Abstract

CARDENAS, Katiuska  and  ROJAS, Eybar. EFFECT OF PACLOBUTRAZOL AND NITRATES OF POTASIUM AND CALCIUM ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE MANGO 'TOMMY ATKINS'. Bioagro [online]. 2003, vol.15, n.2, pp.83-90. ISSN 1316-3361.

Effects of paclobutrazol, nitrates of potassium (KNO₃ ) and calcium (Ca(NO₃)₂) on the growth and development of mango 'Tommy Atkins' were studied. Four-year old trees grafted on mango 'Hilacha', spaced 8 m x 4 m, were used under a completely randomized design with a factorial arrangement of treatments (2x5) with 7 repetitions. The factors were paclobutrazol applied to the soil at two levels (0 and 6 ml of Cultar/m2 de canopy base) and nitrate at five levels: no nitrates, 8% KNO₃ and Ca(NO₃)₂ sprayed to foliage in one application, and 3,5% KNO₃ and Ca(NO₃)₂ in three applications at one week of intervals. The paclobutrazol inhibited vegetative growth and stimulated flower development. Flowering was initiated six weeks before than it occurs in normal conditions. In contrast, nitrates had not effect on generative shoots, but 8% potassium nitrate stimulated the burst of vegetative, mixed and total buds. Paclobutrazol produced large number of fruits per inflorescence but had not effect on percentage of retained fruits.

Keywords : Mangifera indica; flowering; growth and development.