Page 53 - FRUTAS DEL TRÓPICO

pRuning stRategies to maximize tRopical mango yields fRom the
time of planting to RestoRation of old oRchaRds 53

vegetative flushes that prevent flowering during warm temperature conditions due to insuffi-
cient accumulation of time in rest between flushes (Davenport, 2003). Nitrogen levels below

1.0% tend to discourage initiation of growth flushes. Soil water content and leaf nitrogen

levels, therefore, must be considered in order to understand the response of tropical mango

trees to pruning.

Tip prune

Tip pruning is defined as pruning terminal stems anywhere from the apex to a point down

the stem that is no larger than 1 cm in diameter. This span includes green barked wood on

two or three intercalary units (Fig. 1). Extension growth flushes of mango trees are evident in

branches from the terminal stems down through scaffold limbs to the graft union. Each flush

of vegetative growth is characterized by long internodes that gradually become close together

forming a cluster of buds at the termination of each flush. The growth record of these flushes

in branches has been described as intercalary units and the cluster of leaves and buds at the

terminus of each intercalary unit as intercalations numbered from the stem terminus (Daven-
port and Nuñez-Elisea, 1997).

Given adequate water and nutrition, tip pruning forces rapid initiation of dormant lateral

stem buds to form lateral shoots in a pattern determined by the location of the pruning cut

(Fig. 1). Prune cuts made immediately distal to any intercalation usually result in initiation of six

to ten lateral vegetative shoots clustered in the intercalation (Fig. 1 and 2A). In contrast, prune

cuts made near the stem tip or below intercalations usually result in two to four lateral stems

originating from the axillary buds at the bases of leaves nearest the cut (Fig. 1 and 2B).
Pruning the tips of mango stems is done for several purposes: 1) to stimulate branching

flushes of lateral shoots through repeated prunings in young trees to form a dense spreading

Universidad Autónoma de Chiapas