EFFECTS OF FRUIT THINNING ON ‘SENSATION’ MANGO (MANGIFERA INDICA) TREES WITH RESPECT TO FRUIT QUANTITY, QUALITY AND TREE PHENOLOGY

Abstract

Different fruit thinning methods were tested on ‘Sensation’ mango trees over two seasons in a trial conducted in Northern Province, South Africa. The objective of the study was to select the best thinning intensity and method based on different parameters. Thinning was carried out in October prior to the occurrence of excessive natural fruit drop. When fruits were thinned to one and two fruits per panicle, fruit number, weight and yield per tree at harvest were all increased. When 50% of the panicles were thinned there was an increase in the fruit retention potential of the trees as well as in the size and quality of the fruit produced. Large fruits were, however, prone to certain physiological problems. Chemical thinning with Corasil.E produced very small fruits with an increased percentage of ‘mules’ (fruit without seed). Trees subjected to severe thinning intensities showed earlier recovery of starch reserves and better vegetative growth than the control.