Differential damage of blossom midge, Procontarinia mangiferae (Felt) to mango cultivars and its impact on fruit retention and yield of variety Amrapali

Abstract: The investigations on varietal (30) reaction and impact of inflorescence midge Procontarinia mangiferae (Felt) control practices on fruit retention and yield of mango variety Amrapali were carried out in the east coast region of India. Results revealed that the incidence of midge among the genotypes varied significantly (F_{29, 58} = 25.88; P<0.00). The lowest incidence was recorded on Neelgoa (16.15%) followed by Neeleshan (26.1%) and the highest in Alphanso (86.27%), Totapuri (86.42%), H-39(87.39%), Amrapali (88.69%), and Lalsundari (89.48%). Based on the relative susceptibility of the genotypes (percent damage to blossom), genotypes were grouped in different categories. Every variety retained the fruits irrespective level of plant damage to the floral bud, having diverse genetic potential the fruit weight had no correlation with fruit number. The impact studies of midge control measure in Amrapali revealed that the floral damage in untreated plants ranged between 73.69-91.37 percent and 61.47-75.47 percent in treated trees. The fruit number at the harvesting stage ranged between 2.80-4.00/ panicle and 3.1-4.20/ panicle with a fruit weight ranging from 1.10 -1.43 and 1.23-1.50 kg/panicle, respectively.It was concluded that though the percent flower damage, fruit number, and yield per panicle differed significantly in treated and untreated trees, this statistical significance may not be of great economic importance at the maturity stage as 3-4 fruits per bunch in Amrapali gives standard yield.