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Agriculture Magazine, June
2002 |
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Some Observations on the
Performance of Nam Dok Mai Mango
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by Dr. Pablito P.
Pamplona |
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Thailand
grows more than 500,00 hectares of mangoes which
is three times when compared this crop in the
Philippines. While the Philippines grows largely
two varieties namely Pico and (Carabao) Manila
super mango. Thailand grows many varieties.
These include Nam Dok Mai (NDM), Chokanan, Nico,
Savoey, Okrong, Nang Mangwan, Thong Dam, Falan. |
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| Thais
prefer these varieties over the Carabao mango which
is also available in that country for many reasons.
These include being responsive to high density
planting, short maturity period, easily induced to
flower. Etc. The most commonly grown varieties are
planted at close distances of 2 x 5 m, 3 x 6 m, or 4
x 6 m or for a population of over 500 plants /ha. |
| Some years
back, Dr. Simon V. Valmayor, after his return
from Thailand, gave the author a plant of NDM
which was multiplied and planted side by side
with Chokanan, and Carabao mango at Grace Fruit
Orchards in Kabacan, Cotabato. Here are some
observations which may be useful to mango
growers. These observations compare the features
of the NDM to that of carabao mango. |
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1. Short
immaturity period.
The trees of NDM bear commercial quantity of fruits
as early as two years from planting unlike the
carabao mango which bears fruits in 4-5 years after
planting. A two-year old tree that is less than 10
ft. tall produces 40-60 fruits of 300-400g each per
cropping. A 4-5 year old tree bears 200-300 fruits.
NDM also bears fruits every year, sometimes twice a
year. This differs from carabao mango which exhibits
bienniality of bearing fruit.
2. Responsive to
potassium nitrate.
NDM with mature to semi-mature leaves readily
produces long panicle of flowers when sprayed with
potassium nitrate. This differs from the carabao
mango which becomes responsive to this flower
inducer only when the leaves are fully mature. We
found that it is easier to induce NDM to flower than
the carabao mango with potassium nitrate.
3. Less affected by
anthracnose.
The tree produces fruits even during rainy days when
the carabao mango fails to fruit due to the damage
of anthracnose. In situations of lower amount of
rainfall, two fungicide sprays were found to produce
clearskin NDM fruits unlike the carabao mango which
requires five or more sprayings. NDM can be produced
at a much lower cost than the carabao mango as it
requires less fungicides.
4. Produces bigger and
longer fruits.
Mature fruits of NDM are generally longer and bigger
at 350 - 480 g per fruit compared to carabao mango
of 250-400 g per fruit. |
| 5. Responsive to
pruning.
Severely pruned NDM trees readily produce many
vegetative shoots which at 4-6 months after
pruning are already responsive to flower
inducer. Hence, it can be planted at high
density as the size of the tree can be
maintained small and low by regular and
judicious pruning. This differs from the carabao
mango wherein severe pruning would reverse the
tree to vegetative stage and would not flower
for at least 2 years |
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| 6. Green
Fruits are highly acceptable.
The immature fruits of NDM of about a month prior to
ripen. |
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