Paclobutrazol and branch tip pruning on the flowering induction and quality of mango tree fruits

ABSTRACT The 'Ubá' mango tree cultivar is very important for the juice industry in the "Zona da Mata" region of the Minas Gerais State, in Brazil, but problems such as uneven flowering and low yield have discouraged producers. This study aimed at evaluating the effect of paclobutrazol, combined with branch tip pruning, on the flowering induction and quality of 'Ubá' mango tree fruits. Treatments were distributed in a 5 x 2 + 1 factorial arrangement, consisting of five paclobutrazol doses (0 g, 0.50 g, 1.00 g, 1.50 g and 2.0 g per linear meter of canopy), with and without branch tip pruning, in a randomized blocks design, with four replicates. The flowering percentage, number of panicles per branch, total flowers per panicle, male/hermaphrodite flowers ratio, number of fruits per branch and fruit quality were evaluated. Plants treated with tip pruning showed a higher flowering percentage. There was an increase in the flowering percentage in response to the paclobutrazol dose, reaching a maximum level at the dose of 1.62 g per linear meter of canopy. Plants submitted to branch tip pruning had a higher number of panicles per branch. There was an increase in the male/hermaphrodite flowers ratio with increasing paclobutrazol doses. Branch tip pruning increased the number of fruits per branch. There were no differences in fruit quality in response to the paclobutrazol application. It was concluded that the paclobutrazol application at the dose of 1.62 g per linear meter of canopy, combined with branch tip pruning, increases the flowering of the 'Ubá' mango tree and does not change the fruit quality.摘要：乌巴（Ubá）芒果品种对于巴西米纳斯吉拉斯州马塔地区（Zona da Mata）的果汁加工业而言至关重要，但开花不整齐、产量偏低等问题却令种植户望而却步。本研究旨在评估多效唑（paclobutrazol）配合枝条顶端修剪对乌巴芒果成花诱导及果实品质的影响。试验采用5×2+1因子设计方案，设置5个多效唑施用梯度（每冠幅线性米施0 g、0.50 g、1.00 g、1.50 g及2.0 g），并搭配有无枝条顶端修剪两个处理，采用随机区组设计，设置4次重复。本研究对开花率、单枝圆锥花序数、每圆锥花序总花数、雄花/两性花比例、单枝坐果数及果实品质进行了测定与评估。结果显示：经顶端修剪处理的植株开花率更高；开花率随多效唑剂量升高而上升，在每冠幅线性米施1.62 g时达到最大值；经枝条顶端修剪的植株单枝圆锥花序数更高；雄花与两性花的比例随多效唑剂量增加而升高；枝条顶端修剪可提升单枝坐果数；多效唑施用对果实品质无显著影响。综上，每冠幅线性米施用1.62 g多效唑配合枝条顶端修剪，可提升乌巴芒果的成花量，且不会改变果实品质。