Research Paper I H J
Indian Horticulture Journal; 5(3/4): 63-69, July-December (2015) ©Indian Society of Advanced Horticulture ISSN: 2249-6823 DI: 169-15-IHJ-2404-2015-14
The Association of Bushy Legumes with ‘Ataúlfo’ Mango (Mangifera indica L.)+ cv. Ataúlfo Affects Reproductive Biology and Enhances Productivity in Mango Plantations in Soconusco, Chiapas, Mexico Marroquín-Agreda, Francisco1*; Gehrke-Velez, Malc Rodney1*A; Pohlan, Jürgen Alfred2 ; Lerma-Molina, José Noé1*; Toledo-Toledo, Ernesto1*; Ley-de Coss, Alejandro1* and Juan Alberto, Rodríguez Morales 1*
Cuerpo Académico - Productividad de Agroecosistemas Tropicales. Facultad de Ciencias Agrícolas, Universidad Autónoma de Chiapas. Entronque Carretera Costera - Pueblo de Huehuetán, Huehuetán, Chiapas, México. CP. 30660. Phone: 1+52(964) 62 7 01 28; Fax: 01 (964) 62 70439. 2Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn, INRES, Tropischer Pflanzenbau. Auf dem Hügel 6, D-53121 Bonn, Germany e-mail: marroquinf@gmail.com Received: 24 April 2015; Revised accepted: 02 August 2015
ABSTRACT The study analyzes the effect of associating four legumes (Crotalaria spectabilis, Cajanus cajan, Vigna unguiculata and Crotalaria longirostrata) in two spatial arrangements during two mango production cycles on the reproductive biology and productivity of ‘Ataulfo’ mango in the state of Chiapas, Mexico. Variables were measured from July 2011 to April 2013. Legume associations increased the number of floral panicles during the two cycles studied. The Crotalaria spectabilis treatment retained 510 floral panicles versus 359 in the control. Cajanus cajan showed a highly significant masculine/hermaphroditic flower ratio of 79/21 percent. Highest yields were obtained in the Crotalaria spectabilis and Crotalaria longirostrata associations (924 and 1388 kg ha-1 respectively). It is concluded that differences in reproductive variable values and productivity in mango favouring legume scenarios, were due to microclimatic changes and lower temperature fluctuations induced, to the incorporation of nitrogen by the legume rhizobia, to soil humidity and to the incorporation of organic matter. Key words: Mangifera caesia Jack ex Wall, Legume, Association, Ecophysiology, Climate change, Productivity Organoleptic and shelf-life characteristics of Ataúlfo mango (Mangifera caesia Jack ex Wall) have made this cultivar commercially the most important and preferred fruit in the Soconusco region of Chiapas, Mexico (NOM 188 SCFI 2012). As a result there are presently 27,291 hectares planted in Chiapas with an average yield of <1 t ha-1, well below the national average yield of 2.6 t ha-1 (SIAP 2013). Nevertheless,
the state of Chiapas holds the second place regarding nationwide planted area and first place in fresh mango exports to the U.S.A. The most important problem of this fruit from a yield point of view is the low level of fruit set which results in a maximum of three fruits per panicle from an original production of more than 2500 flowers per panicle (Gehrke et al. 2011). Many factors are involved in this phenomenon. Among them are
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The specific nomenclature applied to the ‘Ataúlfo’ mango in the official Mexican norm is (Mangifera caesia Jack ex Wall).The authors do not apply this denomination due to the fact that the morphological description of this species is not in accordance with the physical appearance of the specimens of the “Ataúlfo” variety used in the present study. For the purposes of the present study the accepted specific epithet indica is applied.
Indian Horticulture Journal 5(3/4)
63
©Indian Society of Advanced Horticulture