Effect of inflorescence thinning on shoot, leaf and bark carbohydrate content and fruit retention of mango (Mangifera indica L.) cv. Nam Dok Mai.
Nartvaranant P., Tongumpai P., Jutamanee K.
Author Affiliation: Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture, Kasetsart University, Kamphaengsaen Campus, Nakhon Phathom 73140, Thailand.
Thai Journal of Agricultural Science 32 : 85-93
Abstract : Total-non structural carbohydrate (TNC) and reducing sugar (RS) content in leaves, shoots, bark and inflorescences of Nam Dok Mai mango trees was studied before, and 30 days after inflorescence thinning. Inflorescences were thinned to retain 75, 50 and 25% of the initial number produced on trees. It was shown that on trees where inflorescences were thinned the TNC content of leaves increased and was directly related to the level of thinning. Inflorescence thinning also increased the RS content of inflorescences which was related to thinning in a similar manner. Fruit size and fruit weights at maturity were not affected by inflorescence thinning. Thinning inflorescences to retain 25% of the initial number to develop on trees significantly increased fruit numbers per 100 inflorescences when compared with the other thinning treatments and the non-thinned control trees.