Phenology, production and starch content of mango trees in Guanacaste, Costa Rica.

Abstract

Phenology, production and starch content of mango trees in Guanacaste, Costa Rica. The objective of this work was to determine the seasonal variation of the starch content of mango trees and its relationships to phenology and fruit production. Trees of Tommy Atkins (TA) and Keitt (K) varieties were studied in Guanacaste, Costa Rica. The phenological stages recorded were: (1) appearance of vegetative buds, (2)fl owering, and (3) fruit production. The latter represented thetotal weight of fruits per tree. Starch content was determined through enzymatic hydrolysis of wood from roots, trunks and branches for four phenological stages during 2004 and 2005.Temperature and precipitation was also recorded. Starchcontent varied through out the study, and was influenced byfl ower and fruit production, with the highest concentration(TA: 11,7%, K: 14.4%) just before flowering (between Augustand November). The lowest concentration of starch (6.1%)was recorded at post harvest for both varieties (May). TheTommy Atkins variety had the highest production in 2006 with 208,5 kg/tree and the lowest production in 2005 with 34.9 kg. In contrast, peak production occurred in the Keittvariety in 2005 with 212.1 kg, and the lowest in 2004 with36.7 kg/tree. The highest harvest in both varieties could beassigned to “on” years and the lowest to “off” years, while 2004 in Tommy Atkins could be considered an intermediate harvest of 86.7 kg/tree.