Effect of cluster setting on yield of 'Dashehari' mango (Mangifera indica).
Ram R. A., Rajput M. S.
Author Affiliation: Central Institute for Subtropical Horticulture, Rehmankhera, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh 227 017, India.
Indian Journal of Agricultural Sciences 74 : 204-206
Abstract : The incidence of cluster setting in trees of mango cv. Dashehari in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India, was studied during 1982-1998. During this period, 9 off years and 8 on years were recorded. Cluster setting was observed in 7 years, whereas normal fruit setting was observed in the remaining 10 years. The incidence of cluster setting was low in 1982, 1986 and 1998, but severe in 1984 (85%), 1990 (70%), 1992 (75%) and 1993 (80%). Ninety-five percent of the randomly collected fruitlets from the cluster had no seeds and had brown shrivelled embryos. The majority of the fruitlets were misshapen. The clustered fruitlets grew slowly and hardly developed beyond the marble stage, eventually dropping off from trees. In 1998, cluster setting was accompanied by excessive vegetative growth, and this incidence reduced yield to only 608.30 kg/ha, which was significantly lower than the yield obtained during the preceding off year (2563 kg/ha). During this year, 54% of the trees did not bear fruits, and the yield of 30% of the trees was low. Crop loss due to cluster setting varied from 65.30 to 74.80% depending on the severity of the disorder. Crop loss reached 60-80% in 1993 and 72.26% in 1998. The monetary loss incurred in 1984, 1993 and 1998 reached 360, 13?434 and 29?325 rupees/ha, respectively.