Pruning affects fruit yield and postharvest quality in mango (Mangifera indica L.) cv. Amrapali

Introduction. Mango fruits grown under high-density planting show a progressive decline in crop yield after 14-15 years, due to overcrowding of canopies, which suggests regular canopy management is necessary. Hence, the effects of pruning treatment on fruit yield and quality of 'Amrapali' mango were studied in India over two consecutive years, 2010 and 2011. Materials and methods. Mango trees were subjected to pruning (removal of 50 cm of shoot from the apex) in the month of September 2009 with unpruned trees serving as control. Fruits were harvested at the commercial maturity stage and quality parameters were assessed both in fresh fruits and following ripening at room temperature [(35 +/- 2) degrees C and (80 +/- 5)% RH)]. Results and discussion. Fruit yield of pruned trees was found to decrease during the first year compared with the fruit yield of unpruned trees; later on, it increased during the second year. Pruning resulted in significantly higher fruit weight, fruit firmness, total carotenoids, antioxidant capacity and total phenolic content. Early maturity of fruits was observed from unpruned trees with faster color change, higher total soluble solids and lower titratable acidity. The fruits harvested from pruned trees showed slower ripening, and lower respiration, ethylene evolution rate and enzyme activity as compared with fruits from unpruned trees. Both anthracnose and stem-end rot disease percentage were reduced in ripe fruits from pruned trees. Conclusion. Pruning treatment appears to be an alternative strategy to obtain better yield and quality in densely populated old mango orchards.