ISHS Acta Horticulturae 275: International Symposium on the Culture of Subtropical and Tropical Fruits and Crops
MANGO BREEDING AND SELECTION - PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE |
| Author: | J.C. Snyman |
| Abstract:
As far as fibreless mangoes are concerned, South Africa is almost totally dependent on imported cultivars. Although these show many superior traits, they all display a lack of adaptability to South African conditions, to a greater or lesser degree. This is especially evident in yield and resistance to diseases. The need for locally bred cultivars is therefore a high priority. Open pollinated seedlings (2500), established at Nelspruit and Messina, were evaluated for superior fruit and tree characteristics. Four very promising selections were identified and application for cultivar status for these four has been submitted. As far as the future is concerned, larger numbers of seedlings have now been established for more extensive and advanced evaluation. Records, as to the origin of these seedlings, are being kept. Although open-pollinated seedlings are still being planted, a system of semi-controlled pollination is also in process. Selected parents are established at very close spacing. At flowering, the parent trees are covered with netting in the presence of a hive of bees. The criteria in the selection of parent trees, in the case of both open-pollinated and semi-controlled pollination, are: excellent colour and shape, good internal quality, resistance/tolerance to diseases and regular high yields. | |
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