“Mango trees produce fruit in three years and fruit develops swiftly. Mango tree maintenance must ensure that the tree continues to produce healthy flowers and fruits in the years ahead”- Harshit Mehta, Founder, AamKesari
Author: Shreya Shubham | Published on 4th May 2022
Mango is known as the “King of Fruits” and is a popular summer fruit. The genus Mangifera belongs to the Anacardiaceae family of fruit plants. A mango tree can reach a height of 30 to 40 meters. Mango cultivation is practiced in several Indian states, including Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, and Bihar. Early and untimely fruit fall from the tree is a serious problem that many farmers face, so this article will provide you with some mango fruit-dropping prevention techniques. Mango blossoms will produce far more fruit than the tree is capable of supporting, resulting in significant fruit drops.
Causes of Mango Fruit Drop
Insect-Pest
Insect pest infestation is one of the major causes of mango fruit fall. Midges, caterpillars, hoppers, thrips, fruit flies, and seed weevils are the most significant contributors. The mango midge can cause up to 70% fruit loss, and the mango hopper is a severe pest that can cause 25–60% fruit loss. The process by which insect damage causes mango fruit to abscise is likely to be as varied as the damage they cause.
Fungal Infections
Powdery mildew and anthracnose are fungi that can cause mango fruit to drop prematurely. Powdery mildew covers mango fruit, foliage, and twigs with a white, powdery substance, whereas anthracnose appears as dark stains on plant leaves or depressed lesions. Both will cause stunted growth, branch dieback, and early mango fruit drop. Fungi and pests feed on dead plant materials like twigs, leaves, blossoms, and fruits, increasing the likelihood of future problems.
Other Factors Contributing to Mango Fruit Dropping
Mangoes falling off stalks is a natural occurrence that is not caused by insects or other problems. A mango tree can only hold a certain percentage of its heavy fruit set, and only a small portion of that will ripen into full-size fruit. Certain mango fruits drop naturally as part of the tree’s thinning process, allowing it to better utilize the nutrients available. The immature fruits are all competing for food and water. Only the most resilient fruits will survive.
The tree’s fruit loss could be caused by a number of factors. Some of the main causes are weather fluctuations, insufficient soil moisture, pollination loss, and ovule abortion.
Fruit Drop Prevention in Mango Trees
Choose a location that is bright and open, but also protected from strong winds. Mango trees can grow in almost any soil, whether sandy, loam, or clay, as long as it has enough depth and drainage. To influence the fruit drop on mango trees, a hormonal spray can be used. Hormones are sprayed on blooms to ensure fruit set. Naphthalene Acetic Acid (NAA) and Gibberellic Acid (GA) can improve fruit retention (GA3).
Other prevention methods include keeping the soil moist to avoid fruit drop, which causes the fruit to grow in size. Wind beaks can be installed throughout the orchard to prevent fruit drops caused by high-velocity winds during the growing season.
Follow AamKesari to learn more!
