Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
WIND
Yield is reduced if strong winds occur during fl owering and early fruiting;
however, the critical threshold for wind exposure is unknown. In windy areas,
windbreaks should be installed to improve yields and reduce fruit damage.
Dry winds during fl owering in the subtropics can cause the loss of fl owers,
and sometimes a second fl owering will occur with better fruit set because
temperatures are more favourable (Galán Saúco, 2009)
GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS
Tree
The mango is an evergreen, symmetrical tree ranging in height from 8 to
30 m, bearing leathery, simple leaves in a compact canopy. The leaves are
alternate, elliptic or spear-shaped, spirally located and fairly leathery, and
10-40 cm long (Fig. 10.1). The leaves persist on the tree for up to 4-5 years
before being shed. Leaves of young fl ushes are usually copper-red or purplish,
gradually turning to dark green.
Vegetative growth occurs in terminal fl ushes of the same branch (Fig.
10.4); each fl ush generates 10-12 new leaves with 1-3 fl ushes a year. The
number, frequency and length of these fl ushes per year depend upon cultivar,
temperature, tree age, current fruit load and previous cropping history. More
fl ushes occur in the tropics than in the subtropics. The strong dominance of
the terminal bud prevents lateral buds from emerging. When shoot elongation
slows and stops, a state of dormancy occurs in the apex until the terminal
leaves have matured, and the shoot is then ready for the next vegetative
growth fl ush or fl owering. Reproductive fl ushes will occur after extended
periods of shoot rest in the low-latitude tropics, aided by a dry period, or
during cool winter months in the higher-latitude tropics and subtropics (Fig.
10.4b) (Davenport, 2003). It is common to see dif erent parts of a tree fl ushing
at dif erent times, especially in the hot tropics. Biennial or irregular fl owering
has been observed in several cultivars in Hawaii; vegetative fl ushes occurring
during the June-July period are more conducive to fl owering the following
spring than fl ushes that occur earlier or later (Nakasone
et al.
, 1955).
The roots form a dense and strong system distributed in the fi rst 2-2.5 m
and having a main tap root that can penetrate 6-8 m. If the water table rises,
a second root system will form above the main system.
Flowers
The induced reproductive terminal buds of the stem produce a large, branched
panicle (Fig. 10.1) with 300-3000 fl owers, depending upon the cultivar. The
