2. INTRODUCTION
Although a number of factors are responsible for mango yield
decline, yet physiological disorders play more devastating and vital
role. As a result, mango growers are losing their faith and interest in
mango orchards and trying to shift their cultivation practices from
mango to other crops.
In this presentation we discussed the important physiological
disorders along with their possible management strategies which will
certainly help the farmers in timely overcoming this malady for
getting satisfactory remunerative prices from mango cultivation.
3. Physiological disorder
Any kind of abnormality in
economically important part of fruits or
other parts that contribute to yield and
quality of fruits is termed as
physiological disorder.
4. Reasons of physiological disorders-
Deficiency of micronutrient
Sudden fluctuation in temperature
Poor soil conditions and
Improper moisture availability during
cultivation.
5. This aspect is more important in fruits and vegetables as quality
and marketable yield is very a key factor in fruits market. If a
farmer has a uniform, healthy and good-looking product, he will
get higher prices.
Why it is important to study of
physiological disorders ?
6. 1. Alternate bearing
Alternate bearing is a very serious and an old problem
in mango.
It is the production of a heavy crop in one year or very
little crop in the next year.
Causes:-
Varietal differences.
Growth habit.
Crop load.
Cultural practices.
Sex ratio.
Insect-pest and disease.
On year fruiting
Off year fruiting
7. Control:-
Use an ethylene releasing compound, ethephon inducing flowers every years.
The concentration of ethephon 200ppm coupled with 0.1% urea was found
effective in inducing regular flowering over the year.
Application of Paclobutrazol @ 10 g a.i. for non- bearing trees during first
fortnight of September will induce flowering and fruit set yield during off
years.
Growing of regular bearing cultivar like “Amrapali”.
8. 2- Clustering (Jhumka)
It implies the development of fruits in
clusters at the tip of the panicles.
Such fruits do not grow beyond pea
or marble stage and drop down after a
month of fruit set.
Clustering or Jhumka
9. Causes:-
• Mainly it is due to lack of pollination / fertilization.
• Absence of sufficient population of pollinators in the orchards.
• Indiscriminate spray of pesticides during flowering.
• Adverse climate during February-March particularly the low
temperature.
Control:-
Spraying of pesticides during flowering should be avoided.
In old orchards, a few branches should be top worked with pollinizing
varieties like Bombey Green,
Introduction of beehives in the orchards during flowering season for
increasing the number of pollinators.
10. 3- Black Tip
The distal end of the affected fruit
exhibit etiolation patches of mesocarp
which turn black and becomes hard.
The affected fruit drop pre maturity.
Dashehari is the highly susceptible
one, while Lucknow Safeda is the
least.
Black tip of mango
11. Causes:-
This disorder has mainly detected in orchards located in the vicinity of
brick kilns.
Gases like carbon dioxide, sulphur dioxide and ethylene constituting the
fumes of brick kiln, damage growing tip of fruits and give rise to the
symptoms of black tip.
Control:-
Establishment of the orchards away from brick kiln by at least 1.6 km in
east to west and 0.8 km in north to south direction and increasing the
chimney height to at least 15- 18 metres can be preventive measures for
this malady.
Spray 1 per cent borax (10g/lit) thrice first before flowering, second
during flowering and third at fruit set stage is very effective.
13. Causes:-
Scientist from different part of the country reported that a fungi-
Fusarium moniliformae var. subglutinans is highly associated with this
disorder.
Temperature range of 21-270C (max.) and 80C (min.) along with
relative humidity of 85% during late winter or early spring is conducive
for the growth of the fungi, resulting severe incidence of malformation
on newly emerged panicles.
Control:-
Application of NAA/Planofix (200ppm) during October, prior to fruit bud
differentiation followed by debloosming of newly emerged panicles or bud
during January- February is beneficial to control the disorder.
Spray of 400 ppm Ethephon at bud inception stage.
14. 6- Spongy Tissue
Cheema and Dhani was first to observe
spongy tissues in mango in 1934.
Which is characterized by the development
of non-edible, sour, yellowish and sponge
like patch with or without air pocket in the
mesocarp of the fruit during ripening.
In extreme cases, the whole fleshy portion
becomes too soft resembling bacterial rot.
It is a major hindrance for Alphonso
growers.
15. Causes:-
This is caused because ripening enzymes during fruit maturation stage
become inactive due to high temperature, convective heat.
Post harvest exposure of fruit to sunlight.
Control:-
• Harvesting of fruits at 3/4th maturity stage.
• Post harvest exposure to low temperatures between 10-150C for 10-18 hrs
• Use of black poly-ethylene mulch.
• Grow resistant varieties like Ratna, Arka Puneet and Arka Aruna etc.
16. Conclusion:
Among all the physiological disorders associated with mango, none is due to a
single factor but all are due to the amalgamation of several factors like genetic
factors, environmental factors, nutritional imbalance, poor cultural practices in
the orchard so it is very difficult to control but proper cultural and management
practices like application of required fertilizers at proper stage, pruning of some
old branches just after harvesting, debloosming of some flower buds during
February-March, application of recommended plant growth regulators at proper
stage etc. can prevent the disorders to a large extent.
17. References
Bose, T. K., Mitra, S. K. and Sanyal, D. (Ed.) 2001. Fruits Tropical and Sub-
Tropical. 3rd Ed. Vols. 1: 69-74. Naya Udyog.
Bal, J. S. (Ed.) 2006. Fruit Growing. 98-101 Publ. Kalyani
Singh, R. and Saxena, S. K. (Ed.) 2008. Fruits. 55-57 National Book Trust, India.
Kundu, M., Dhakar, M, K. and Joshi, R. (2013). Physiological Disorders: A Big
Barrier to Mango Growers in India. 1 (3). Popular Kheti.
https://www.krishisewa.com
https://www.omafra.gov.on
