Effect of flowering and fruiting on branching of young mango trees - an architectural approach

Correspondance: normand@cirad.fr; UMR DAP équipe AFEFInternational audienceAs in other fruit species, the architectural development of mango tree, defined as the natural characteristics of growth and branching, is likely to be dependent on the cultivar and may influence flowering and fruiting. In this paper, we focused on the effect of previous flowering and fruiting on the branching pattern, defined as the total number of new shoots borne by a parent growth unit, of seven mango cultivars: Cogshall, Irwin, José, Kensington Pride, Kent, Nam Doc Maï and Tommy Atkins. Branching density was determined on 2-year-old trees, before the first flowering and fruiting, and was determined again on these trees after the vegetative growth following harvest. Sequential branching, on the terminal parent growth units, and reiteration on older growth units were then considered. Branching density before the first flowering differed among cultivars. Tommy Atkins and Irwin branched poorly, whereas Nam Doc Maï branched profusely. The studied cultivars had different behaviour with respect to sequential branching and reiteration. Sequential branching was the main branching process after the first harvest and was affected by flowering and by fruit load. Reiteration was poor, except for Tommy Atkins and Irwin. Branching and its relationship with flowering appear as interesting fields of investigation for a better understanding and control of flowering and alternate bearin