Page 62 - FRUTAS DEL TRÓPICO

62 Frutas del trópico

taken immediately prior to the fourth tip prune at level 4 to further increase stem number in
September for anticipated flowering response in January-February.

Figure 4. Flush events following a typical tip prune (indicated by arrows) of a mature

mango tree during the rainy season in Honduras. (A) Trees with leaf nitrogen levels between

1.1 and 1.4% at the time of pruning typically flush once following the prune event and remain

in rest 4 months until stimulated to grow, in this case using foliar applied potassium nitrate.

Growth in response to this stimulus is usually reproductive despite the presence of warm

temperatures. (B) Trees with leaf nitrogen levels greater than 1.4% at the time of pruning, or

if cut too deep into the branch, typically flush two times in rapid succession. The stems in the

second vegetative flush are, thus, insufficiently mature to allow flowering when stimulated to
grow using nitrate spray five months after the prune event. The resulting third flush following

pruning is, thus, vegetative.

Figure 5. (A) Asynchronous vegetative growth within a ‘Haden’ tree canopy prior to the

normal flowering season promotes asynchronous and irregular flowering. Recent shoots in

the limp, red-leaf stage of development are in section (a), stems of about 2 months of age are

in section (b), and stems older that 3 months are in section (c). (B) Tip pruning the orchard
promotes a synchronized flush of vegetative growth throughout canopies of individual trees

and the entire orchard. (C) Tip pruning stimulates synchronous initiation of numerous lateral

shoots per cut stem resulting in potentially more panicle bearing stems than available prior to

pruning. (D) Synchronous flowering occurs even in warm temperatures if the resulting stems

are stimulated to grow after reaching sufficient stem maturity (about 4 months). Photos depict

‘Haden’ trees in Venezuela, (A&B), Dominican Republic, (C), and Honduras (D).

Universidad Autónoma de Chiapas