Improving fruit quality and profitability of ‘Honey Gold’ mango Ted Winston Tropical Horticultural Consulting Pty Ltd Project Number: MG10009 MG10009 This report is published by Horticulture Australia Ltd to pass on information concerning horticultural research and development undertaken for the mango industry. The research contained in this report was funded by Horticulture Australia Ltd with the financial support of Pinata Farms Pty Ltd. All expressions of opinion are not to be regarded as expressing the opinion of Horticulture Australia Ltd or any authority of the Australian Government. The Company and the Australian Government accept no responsibility for any of the opinions or the accuracy of the information contained in this report and readers should rely upon their own enquiries in making decisions concerning their own interests. ISBN 0 7341 3334 0 Published and distributed by: Horticulture Australia Ltd Level 7 179 Elizabeth Street Sydney NSW 2000 Telephone: (02) 8295 2300 Fax: (02) 8295 2399 © Copyright 2014 HAL MG10009 (31/05/2014) Improving fruit quality and profitability of ‘Honey Gold’™ Mango E. C. Winston et al. FINAL REPORT Tropical Horticultural Consulting P/L, Mission Beach Qld 4852 Improving fruit quality and profitability of ‘Honey Gold’ ™ Mango HAL PROJECT NUMBER: MG10009 FINAL REPORT 31 May 2014 Project Leader: E C (Ted) Winston, Tropical Horticultural Consulting Pty Ltd., 60 Mission Drive, Mission Beach, Qld, 4852. Phone (07) 40 688796; Mobile 0412534514; Email [email protected] Project Personnel: Dr. Peter Hofman, Senior Principal Horticulturist, Queensland Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, PO Box 5083 SCMS, Nambour Qld, 4560, Phone (07) 5453 5968 Fax (07) 5453 5901 Mobile 0407 173 608; Email [email protected] Dr. Andrew Macnish, Senior Horticulturist, Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, PO Box 5083 SCMS, Nambour Qld, 4560, Email: [email protected] Prof Daryl Joyce , Agri-Science Queensland, DAFF, GPO Box 267, Brisbane Qld 4001, and The University of Queensland, Gatton, Qld 4343. Mob 0428867804; email [email protected] Dr Roberto Marques, past Research Horticulturist, Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, PO Box 5083 SCMS, Nambour 4560 Gavin Scurr, Managing Director, Piñata Farms Pty Ltd. and others, PO Box 12, Wamuran, Qld, 4512, Phone (07) 54974295; Fax (07) 54974296; Mobile 0407714549; Email [email protected] Rebecca Scurr, ‘Honey Gold’ Coordinator, Pinata Farms Pty. Ltd and Others. PO Box 12, Wamuran, Qld. 4512, Mobile 0408199313, Email: [email protected] ‘Honey Gold’ is a relatively new mango cultivar. Market demand is strong and growing with both local and export markets being developed by Piñata Farms Pty Ltd. An earlier project MG06022 resolved several agronomic issues, including inconsistent flowering in tropical environments and low yield due to excessive fruit drop. However MG06022 identified other constraints impacting on grower profitability: (i) low percentage packout of premium grade fruit (ii) underskin browning, (iii) need for a good crop forecasting model, and (iv) need to develop alternative markets for non premium fruit. The objectives of MG10009 were to develop suitable production and handling methodologies to reduce these issues and improve grower profitability. Acknowledgements: This project has been funded by HAL using voluntary contributions from Piñata Farms P/L and matched funds from the Australian Government. Results of the work on ‘Honey Gold’ would not have been possible without Piñata Farms P/L and suggestions of the ‘Honey Gold’ growers. The support and dedication of Queensland Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries is gratefully acknowledged. The assistance of Lindsey Hewitt and Michael Page of Pinata was invaluable. Disclaimer Any recommendations contained in this publication do not necessarily represent current HAL Limited policy. No person should act on the basis of the contents of this publication, whether as to maters of fact or opinion or other content, without first obtaining specific, independent professional advice in respect of the matters set out in this publication MG10009; Honey Gold mango final report i CONTENTS CONTENTS ................................................................................................................................................................. 1 MEDIA SUMMARY ................................................................................................................................................... 3 TECHNICAL SUMMARY ......................................................................................................................................... 4 1. INCREASING THE PERCENT PACKOUT OF PREMIUM GRADE FRUIT ................................ 6 1.1. Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 6 1.2. Materials and methods ......................................................................................................... 7 1.2.1. Downgrades protocol .................................................................................................... 7 1.2.2. Year 1 ............................................................................................................................ 7 1.2.3. Years 2 and 3 ................................................................................................................ 9 1.3. Results and Discussion ........................................................................................................ 9 1.3.1. 2011/12 Year 1 .............................................................................................................. 9 1.3.2. 2012/13 Year 2 ............................................................................................................ 10 1.3.3. 2013/14 Year 3 ............................................................................................................ 13 1.3.4. Three year results ........................................................................................................ 15 1.4. Summary and recommendations ........................................................................................ 17 2. CROP FORECASTING ........................................................................................................................ 18 2.1. Introduction ........................................................................................................................ 18 2.2. Materials and methods ....................................................................................................... 19 2.2.1. Heat sums .................................................................................................................... 19 2.2.2. Dry Matters ................................................................................................................. 21 2.3. Results and Discussion ...................................................................................................... 21 2.3.1. Heat Sums ................................................................................................................... 21 2.3.2. Dry Matters ................................................................................................................. 27 2.3.3. Days to 1500 units maturity and to harvest ................................................................ 30 2.4. Summary and Recommendations ...................................................................................... 30 3. UNDER SKIN BROWNING................................................................................................................. 32 3.1. The standard USB test ....................................................................................................... 34 3.1.1. Summary ..................................................................................................................... 34 3.1.2. Introduction ................................................................................................................. 34 3.1.3. Materials and methods ................................................................................................ 35 3.1.4. Results and discussion ................................................................................................ 37 3.2. Production factors and USB (USB Survey) ....................................................................... 39 3.2.1. Materials and methods ................................................................................................ 39 3.2.2. Results and discussion ................................................................................................ 40 3.3. Nutrition and water stress .................................................................................................. 46 3.3.1. Materials and methods ................................................................................................ 46 3.3.2. Results and discussion ................................................................................................ 47 3.4. Fruit position in the canopy ............................................................................................... 47 3.4.1. Materials and methods ................................................................................................ 47 3.4.2. Results and discussion ...............................................................................................