Evaluation of Promalin to promote growth of young mangosteen seedlings

Abstract

A major impediment to the development of a mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana L.) industry is the long pre-bearing stage that seedlings require to produce fruits. A field study was conducted to determine the effect of Promalin on the growth of mangosteen seedlings. Year-old seedlings were transplanted to the field in Santa Isabel, Puerto Rico. Four applications of Promalin were used as a foliar spray at concentrations of 0, 25, 50, 75, 100 and 125 mg/L beginning when seedlings were approximately 2.5 years old, and then every 10 to 15 weeks over a period of almost one year. Final measurements were made 10 weeks after the final application, and 353 days after treatment initiation, when seedlings were 3.5 years old. No significant differences were observed in plant height, stem diameter, or number of branches and leaves.