Applying Paclobutrazol and Flower Bud Pruning Modify the Fruiting Time and Fruit Quality of ‘Amrapali’ Mango (<i>Mangifera indica</i> L.)

Abstract

Postharvest loss of mango often occurs due to the short harvesting period. An experiment was conducted to determine the impact of paclobutrazol (PBZ) and flower bud pruning (FBP) on regulating flowering, fruiting time and fruit quality of 'Amrapali' mango. Different doses of PBZ at 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0 g per meter canopy diameter and water application along with FBP or without FBP were used, as well as water application without FBP (control). The application of PBZ caused earlier flowering by 22 days and harvesting was also done earlier by 18 days compared to the control. Plants subjected to FBP with PBZ reflowered 36 days later and harvesting was delayed by 16 days compared to the control. Moreover, the combination of PBZ 1.5 g with FBP showed significantly higher flowering percentages, number of panicles, total flowers, total fruits and weight of fruit compared to the control. In addition, the application of PBZ 1.5 g with FBP increased the total soluble solids, reducing sugar, non-reducing sugar, total sugar and β-carotene, while it decreased the vitamin C content. The present findings imply that applying PBZ 1.5 g with FBP to mango can extend the flowering and fruiting time, while the fruit quality was also influenced positively.