Page 61 - FRUTAS DEL TRÓPICO

pRuning stRategies to maximize tRopical mango yields fRom the
time of planting to RestoRation of old oRchaRds 61

Figures

Figure 1. Diagram of a typical mango terminal stem showing three intercalary units, each sepa-

rated by a tight cluster of closely spaced nodes, or intercalations, representing the termination

of each previous flush of vegetative growth as described by (Davenport and Nuñez-Elisea,

1997). Tip pruning stimulates initiation of lateral shoots represented by the diagonal lines radia-

ting from the stems. If the cut is made immediately distal to an intercalation (grey circles), then

six to ten lateral shoots initiate from the cluster of quiescent buds in the intercalation, forming

branching stems (gray diagonal lines) in a radiating pattern. If a prune cut is made at or near the
distal terminus of an intercalary unit (black circles), shoots are initiated from quiescent lateral

buds in the most proximal nodes to the cut (black diagonal lines), usually resulting in two to

four lateral stems.

Figure 2. (A) Ten lateral stems resulting from a tip prune immediately distal to an intercala-

tion. (B) Four lateral stems resulting from a tip prune near the distal terminus of an intercalary

unit. Photos depict stems from trees in the Dominican Republic.

Figure 3. (A) Diagram of branch architecture of a typical mango tree that has never been
tip pruned. (B) Matching photo of a typical one-year-old ‘Keitt’ tree in the Dominican Republic

that has never been pruned. (C) Diagram demonstrating increased branching response (four

branches per prune event) after one year following three tip-pruning events (circles) at three-

month intervals. (D) Photo of a typical one-year-old ‘Keitt’ tree in the Dominican Republic

after three previous tip prune events at levels 1, 2, and 3 in three-month intervals. Photo was

Universidad Autónoma de Chiapas