Abstract
Studies were conducted at the Fortuna Substation for 10 years to determine the effect of 5 interstems on growth and yield components of 2 commercial mango varieties. The interstems did not significantly affect the rootstock diameter when Edward variety was the scion; however, they did with Palmer variety as scion at the 3- and 6-year stages only, Irwin interstem diameter at the 3-year stage for Edward and Palmer, and at the 6- and 9-year stages for Edward, was significantly thicker than that of the other interstems. Edward on Manzano Tetenené had the thinnest interstems. In the two varieties studied, the scion diameter was scarcely affected by the interstems at 3, 6 and 9 years after transplanting. Edward and Palmer grafted on Irwin as interstems had significantly lower scion/interstem ratios. The opposite was true when these varieties were grafted on Julie. Three years after planting, the smallest trees were those of Edward and Palmer grafted on Malda; 6 and 9 years after planting, those of Edward grafted on Malda and Manzano Tetenené. Yield efficiency decreased significantly with tree age and size. Thus, there was a negative correlation between these parameters. Edward produced significantly more fruits than Palmer at the 3-year-old stage. Edward as interstem grafted on Eldon produced significantly more fruits at the 3-, 6- and 9-year stages than when grafted on the other interstems. Palmer grafted on Eldon was significantly more precocious than when grafted on the other interstems. Malda and Manzano Tetenené as interstems significantly reduced tree size of Edward; Julie as interstem reduced the size of Palmer.