Response of paclobutrazol treatment on flowering, fruit maturity, yield and quality of mango (Mangifera indica) cv Totapuri

A field trial was conducted at Indian Institute of Horticultural Research Bangalore during 2007-2011 to study the effect of different doses and time of application of paclobutrazol on flowering, fruiting behavior and quality of 22 years old mango (Mangifera indica L.) cv Totapuri under South Indian Condition. There were nine treatments involving two doses of paclobutrazol 2.5g and 5.0g a.i/plant with four times of application (last week of July, August, September and October) along with control. All the paclobutrazol applied treatments induced early flowering to an extent by 20-25 days with increased percentage of flowering of 30-65% compared to control. The harvest maturity was also influenced by paclobutrazol application with an advancement of 3-4 weeks compared to control. The fruit yield was also affected and most pronounced effect was with T-5-treatment (2.5g a.i. applied during last week of September) which recorded mean cumulative fruit yield of 141.1 kg/Plant, which is 55% higher compared to control (91.1 kg/plant). However, fruit quality attributes such as TSS and acidity were not affected by different dose and time of application of paclobutrazol. Cost benefit ratio was maximum (1:3.02) with the treatment 2.5g a.i. paclobutrazol applied during the last week of September month.