Improvement of mango (Mangifera indica) for regular and early fruiting in Andaman

Abstract

An experiment was conducted during 1997-99 with 36 clones of selected mango (Mangifera indica L.) for early and regular bearing after survey of different islands in Andaman and Nicobar islands during flowering and fruiting period. The genetic and phenotypic coefficient of variance, heritability, genetic advance, coefficient of correlation were estimated for
weight of fruit, length and breadth of fruit, total soluble solids (TSS), acidity, stone and pulp weight. Variability was observed among clones for the characters studied which exhibited highest estimate of broad sense heritability and low to moderate genetic advance. Length (98.4%) and breadth of fruit (99.5%), weight of fruit (99.4%) and pulp (90.0%) had higher estimates for broad sense of heritability as well as higher expected genetic advance. Fruit weight, length and breadth
were found to be an effective selective index. Four selected clones grafted on local rootstock were evaluated in field for
flowering and fruiting. Clone No. 6-1-3a and 6-3-1-2 were found to bear regularly and early, ie before on set of monsoon and gave maximum yield (90 kg and 42 kg (tree) with highestvalue for TSS (11.2 and 11.00 brix), vitamin C (30.5 and 280.5 mg/ 100g) and vitamin A (421.0 and 694.25 ug/100g) respectively.