Comparison of growth, yield, and fruit quality between trees grafted onto rootstocks propagated by air layering and trees grafted onto seedling in mango 'Aikou' pot culture

摘要

Growth, yield, and fruit quality were compared at 8 years after planting between Aikou mango trees grafted onto rootstock propagated by air layering and those grafted onto seedling rootstock under pot culture. The rootstock used in this study was a Taiwanese native strain. The two types of trees were planted in 25-L pots constructed of non-woven fabric. The trunk diameter of the air-layered rootstock trees was significantly smaller than that of the seedling rootstock trees until the trees were 5 years old, but there was no difference between the two tree types after 8 years old. Moreover, no significant difference was observed in total length of green branches and numbers of leaves per tree except at 8, or 6 and 8 years of age. The fresh and dry weights of the leaves, green branches, thick branches, and fine roots of the air-layered rootstock trees were significantly greater than those of the seedling rootstocktrees. The total weight of the aboveground parts of the air-layered rootstock trees was significantly greater than that of the seedling rootstock trees, but no significant difference was observed in the total weight of the underground parts between the tree types. The fresh weight of an entire air-layered rootstock tree was significantly greater than that of a seedling rootstock tree. The top/root (T/R) fresh weight ratio of the air-layered rootstock trees was significantly greater than that of the seedling rootstock trees. No significant differences in yield or fruit quality were observed between the two tree types. These results indicate that the use of rootstock propagated by air layering during mango nursery tree production is practical, as the growth, yield, and fruit quality of the air-layered rootstock trees and seedling rootstock trees were similar.