Recipient Organization
COLLEGE OF MICRONESIA
PO BOX 1179
KOLONIA POHNPEI,FM 96941
Performing Department
COLLEGE ADMINISTRATION
Non Technical Summary
The evaluation of mango local germplasm, introduction of new varieties, pruning system that incorporates the use of plant growth regulator to establish protocols for mango production will be conducted. Besides delicious taste and excellent ?avor, mango is rich in vitamins and minerals. Poor canopy management is considered as one of the major limiting factors for low productivity coupled with inferior quality fruits in mango production. The use of paclobutrazol in mango is quite common. Paclobutrazol has been registered in 1985 however it has now been permitted for use on food crops in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, India, Philippines, Vietnam, Canada, USA (California), Finland, Hungry, Greece, Cyprus, Denmark and Netherlands. But its use in mango is still new in Palau. Experiments conducted in local adaptable to Palau's climate will improve performance and reliability. Reliable mango management system will be developed for the growers.
Animal Health Component
50%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
0%
Applied
50%
Developmental
50%
Goals / Objectives
Goal: To optimize mango flower induction practices involving variety improvement, pruning and flowering agent applicationObjective 1. To determine effects of pruning and flowering agent to fruit productionObjective 2. To evaluate flowering performance of introduced mango varietiesObjective 3. To prepare reports on results of the study for flowering and fruit setting in mango for dissemination to local farmers and publications.Objective 4. To distribute mango varieties that show good potential of flowering in Palau to fruit tree growers
Project Methods
Methods: 1. Experimental design will be RCBD with 2 factors and 3 replications.Factor A: Pruning intensitiesFactor B: Flowering agent (PBZ)Experiments will be conducted for three seasons. Data collection will be done according to Yeshitela et al., (2005) and Garcia De Niz et al., (2014). Number of vegetative shoots m-2, number of vegetative growths per shoot, number of inflorescences m-2, flowering-to-harvest period, number of set fruits m-2, incidence of seedless fruit (%), incidence of non-commercial fruits (%) and production per tree (kg) will be recorded.Table 1. Treatments and number of mango plants for flower induction experiment in the R&D station, PCC-CREPruning intensitiesFlowering agent (PBZ) rateTotalNo pruning (P0)(Control)Zero (F0= 0 ml ai)(P0* F0)* R3(P0* F1)* R3(P0* F2)* R39Light pruning (P1)(30 cm from the tip)Low rate (F1=4 ml ai)(P1* F0)* R3(P1* F1)* R3(P1* F2)* R39Heavy pruning (P2)(90 cm from the tip)Medium rate (F2=15 ml ai)(P2* F0)* R3(P2* F1)* R3(P2* F2)* R39Total Plants27Methods: 2. Composite soil samples representative to the experimental area will be taken according to Piper (1966) to determine available N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S, B, Zn, Fe, Cu in the pilot site before and at the end of the flowering season. The collected soil samples will be analyzed in JIRCAS laboratory (Okinawa Branch). Fertilizer application will be done according to JIRCAS mango management guidelines (personal communication).Methods: 3. Collection of mango germplasm from Agriculture Research Station Legalega Nadi, Fiji and JIRCAS, Okinawa, Japan. Quarantine requirements will be fulfilled by BOA, Palau.Methods: 4. Evaluation of growth rate of mango collected germplasm. Data to be recorded are survival rate, plant height, number of branches, number of new flushes and initial flowering performance starting from 2 years plant age.Methods: 5. Apply different PBZ rates starting from 2-years old seedlings.