Internal breakdown, mineral element concentration, and weight of mango fruit¹

Florida Agricultural Experiment Station Journal Series No. R‐05820.

Abstract

Internal breakdown in mango fruit is a disorder often attributed to a nutrient deficiency, particularly of calcium (Ca), in the fruit. The relationship between internal breakdown in mango fruit and fruit mineral element concentrations and fresh weight was investigated. Fruit were collected weekly from a commercial orchard beginning 4 weeks after fruit set (WAFS) until the fruit were ripe. The concentrations of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), Ca, magnesium (Mg), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), iron (Fe), and boron (B) and fresh weight of ‘Tommy Atkins’ mango fruit with and without internal breakdown were compared. Disordered fruit weighed more than healthy fruit 4 WAFS. However, when fruit were ripe there were no significant differences in fruit weight between healthy and disordered fruit. Disordered fruit contained significantly higher concentrations of N, P, Ca, and B than the healthy mango fruit, 4 WAFS. When fruit were ripe, there were no differences in N, K, Ca, Mg, Zn, Mn, Fe, and B concentrations between healthy and disordered fruit. Ripe, healthy fruit had higher Cu and lower P concentrations than ripe, disordered fruit. Internal breakdown could not be specifically linked to a Ca deficiency in mango fruit at any stage of fruit ontogeny.

Notes

Florida Agricultural Experiment Station Journal Series No. R‐05820.

Corresponding author.