Detailed Explanation of Key Techniques for Mango Cultivation

This variety was introduced from Thailand in 1990, and after several years of selecting the best from a population of asexually propagated superior individual plants, it was developed through selective breeding. After four consecutive years of multi-point planting trials from 1996-1999 in Guangdong, Guangxi, Yunnan and other places, its various superior traits showed stable genetic characteristics/properties, with the following features:

1. It can flower and fruit in all four seasons

The first crop flowers from late February to late March, with fruit ripening from late June to late July; the second crop flowers in late April, with fruit ripening in late July; the third crop flowers from late July to early August, with fruit ripening in late November; the fourth crop flowers in late September, with fruit ripening in March-April of the following year.

2. Flowering period can be artificially regulated, with very strong off-season fruiting characteristics

Four-season mango does not require low temperatures to initiate flowering. Under natural conditions, as long as cultivation techniques are applied (such as pruning, shaping, spraying or drenching with growth regulators), flowering and fruiting can be adjusted to any season at will.

3. Robust and easy to grow, fruits early

Four-season mango, like other mango varieties, has fast growth speed and can produce yields even under extensive management. Grafted seedlings planted in spring can flower and fruit by autumn of the same year.

4. Strong resistance, wide adaptability

Four-season mango is resistant to stem-end rot, moderately resistant to anthracnose and angular leaf spot. As long as fruit bagging is practiced, over 90% premium commercial fruit can be obtained. It has relatively strong drought tolerance and is more cold-tolerant than purple-flowered mango. At 35 degrees Celsius during the flowering period, it can still flower and set fruit, and from flower drop to fruit maturity takes about 80 days. Wherever ordinary mango trees can survive, four-season mango is suitable for planting.

5. High yield, good productivity

In the second year after planting, the average annual yield per tree reaches over 3 kg, in the third year it can reach over 15 kg, and in the fourth year it can reach over 30 kg, making it one of the highest-yielding mango varieties in China at present.

6. Beautiful fruit appearance, excellent quality

Four-season mango fruit has a beautiful appearance, with individual fruit weight of 200-300 grams. The flesh is thick, golden in color, with few fibers, an edible rate of 76-83%, soluble solids of 20-24%, and a thin, slender stone. Over 60% of fruits ripening after September show no kernel in the stone. Its quality surpasses the world-famous mango - the Luzon mango.

Because this variety has strong off-season fruiting characteristics and its production period is easily regulated artificially, it can obtain good economic benefits and is a variety worth vigorously promoting for planting.

Key points of cultivation techniques:

1. Choose loose, fertile soil for planting: because four-season mango has large fruit loads, many fruiting cycles, and fast growth, it requires more fertilizer and water than other varieties. As long as the tree vigor is strong, high yields and high-quality fruit can be obtained.

2. Prevent sporadic flowering of young trees and mature trees, and promote vigorous vegetative growth. During seasons when flowering and fruit setting are not desired, spray gibberellin + 0.3%-0.5% urea solution once a month. (Note: the gibberellin dosage is 50-80 ppm in summer and autumn, and 100-150 ppm in winter and spring).

3. Artificial flowering regulation method: from April to October each year, about 50 days before the selected flowering period, when new shoots are mature, spray once with 15% paclobutrazol (300 grams/100 jin of water) + 300 ppm ethephon (ethephon content 40%) + 0.5% monopotassium phosphate (preferably potassium nitrate). About 30 days after application, flowering begins.

4. Apply flower-promoting and flower-strengthening fertilizer well: (when the flower spikes emerge 5 cm, spray 400 times cytokinin + Lüwang No. 2 (high nitrogen), and at the same time drench with 1-2 dan of decomposed liquid fertilizer plus 0.5% multi-element compound fertilizer.

5. Bagging: after fruit thinning is completed, spray fungicide pesticide, then bag the fruit. In summer, use blue-green plastic mesh bags; in winter, use non-woven fabric bags, or use wax-treated paper bags year-round.

6. Pest and disease control: four-season mango has relatively few insect pests, with disease prevention being the main focus.

(1) Pay attention to controlling mango fruit borer at the beginning of each flower spike emergence. When entrance holes are found, spray 20% fenvalerate 2000-3000 times, 40% chlorpyrifos 1000 times, or 40% omethoate 800 times.

(2) Mango disease control focuses on anthracnose, bacterial angular leaf spot and downy mildew. In the annual fruit protection work, the key to disease control is before flowering and after fruit setting. The application sequence is: first spray prochloraz or thiophanate-methyl or carbendazim 1-2 times, then spray Bordeaux mixture or 77% copper hydroxide or copper oxychloride.