ISHS Acta Horticulturae 455: V International Mango Symposium
EFFECT OF HURRICANE ANDREW ON MANGO TREES IN FLORIDA AND THEIR RECOVERY |
| Authors: | J. H. Crane, Carlos F. Balerdi |
| Keywords: | Mangifera indica L., hurricane, typhoon |
| Abstract:
On 24 August 1992, Hurricane Andrew made landfall on south Florida. The National Weather Service reported sustained winds of 230 kph with gusts in excess of 280 kph. Only 50 to 100 mm of rainfall were reported during the storm. Prior to the hurricane, Florida possessed about 1172 ha of commercial mango, produced in excess of 10 MT of fruit annually that was valued at about $4.3 million (US). Immediately after the hurricane, only 648 ha remained and during the 1993 season only 1.25 MT of fruit valued at less than $1.0 million was harvested. Initial observations of mango tree damage included defruiting, defoliation, breakage of major scaffold limbs, trunk splitting and breakage, tree toppling, bark scarring, and windthrowing. Subsequent damage included heat stress (sunburning) of exposed trunks and limbs and continued decline of trees. An orchard survey conducted during 1993, found 71% of the mango trees initially survived the hurricane. In addition it was found that 20%, 29%, 21%, and 30% of the mango trees were toppled, destroyed, remained as stumps, and were left standing, respectively as a result of Hurricane Andrew. Four years after Hurricane Andrew it has become apparent that recovery of damaged mango trees has been very slow with many trees continuing to decline and die. Damaged bark due to excessive sun exposure (sunburning) and root damage appear to be the main causes for the poor recovery. | |
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