Yield and Fruit Size Comparisons in the First Six Crops of 16 Mango Varieties

Abstract

Sixteen mango varieties planted at 30 feet by 30 feet spacing in a partially balanced incomplete block design, which included 32 trees of each variety, were compared with respect to production, and fruit and tree size. Production for all varieties in general started on the fifth year after planting when in accordance with linear regression it amounted to 5 pounds of fruit per tree, and increased at the rate of about 28 pounds per year per tree during the following five crops. The varieties were classified with regard to consistency in bearing, according to a mean index derived from the difference in yield per tree from one year to the next divided by its mean yield for the 2 years being compared. The varieties Kent, Eldon, Palmer, Haden, and Keitt were highly inconsistent. Varieties Sensation, Santaella, Parvin, Earlygold and Jacquelin were intermediately consistent. The varieties Edward, Zill, Pillsbury, Ruby, and Irwin were regular bearers. The potential productivity per acre for each variety was calculated hypothetically for a square-lattice pattern of planting at a distance of 1 1/2 times the mean tree-crown diameter at 10 years of age. These distances varied from 28.1 feet for Palmer to 18.9 feet for Lippens. The varieties Lippens, Irwin, Sensation, Eldon and Keitt, in descending order, gave the highest yields ranging in total production for the six crops from 67,079 pounds per acre for Lippens to 45,608 pounds per acre for Keitt. The last crop of these same varieties at 10 years of age ranged from 10 to 11 tons per acre. The varieties Earlygold, Kent, Zill, and Parvin in descending order gave intermediate yields ranging in total production for the six crops from 42,310 pounds per acre for Earlygold to 38,369 pounds per acre for Parvin. The last crop of these same varieties at 10 years of age ranged from 6 to 10 tons per acre. The varieties Haden, Ruby, Pillsbury, Santaella, Jacquelin, Edward and Palmer, in descending order, gave yields at 10 years of age, which ranged from 6 to 10 tons per acre. The varieties Haden, Ruby, Pillsbury, Santaella, Jacquelin, Edward and Palmer in descending order, gave the lowest yields ranging in total production for the six crops from 32,732 pounds per acre for Haden to 23,868 pounds per acre for Palmer. The last crop of these same varieties, at 10 years of age, ranged from 2 1/2 to 6 tons per acre. The mean fruit size for each variety was determined in terms of weight in pounds per fruit utilizing all of the available data from the six crops. The varieties Jacquelin, Kent, Keitt, Palmer and Edward, in descending order, gave the largest fruit. The size ranged from a mean weight of 1.220 pounds for Jacquelin to 0.945 pounds for Edward. The varieties Eldon, Parvin, Haden, Earlygold, and Irwin, in descending order, gave intermediate sized fruit ranging from 0.842 pounds for Eldon to 0.657 pounds for Irwin. The varieties Zill, Lippens, Sensation, Pillsbury, Santaella, and Ruby, in descending order, gave small fruit ranging from 0.620 pounds for Zill to 0.452 pounds for Ruby.