2026-03-10 CURRENT SCIENCE 2026 130(卷), 5(期), (449-457页)
India owes lion share in the mango (Mangifera indica L.) production, contributing similar to 40% of world's total production. Despite the expansion in cultivated area, yield levels are stagnant, rather diminishing over the recent years in the Indian sub-continent. This paradox is largely ascribed to aging orchards coupled with unscientific management. To address this issue, a field experiment was conducted for two consecutive years (2020-2021 and 2021-2022) to assess the influence of tree age and management drives on two major phenological stages (flowering and fruiting) of mango. Two fruit production cycles (i.e., from vegetative bud initiation to fruit maturity) were studied in a regional dominant mango hybrid (Mallika) belonging to two age groups (20 and 28 years old). Pooled analysis revealed that a significantly higher number of panicles (325), hermaphrodite flowers (285), and the least flower drop (96.3%) in 20-year-old trees managed with plant protection chemicals (PPCs). Consequently, significantly higher fruit yield (74.34 kg tree-1), fruit volume (440.3 cm3) and total sugar content (20.03%) were also observed in younger trees managed with PPCs. Further, the final yield levels were a mere reflection of the number of panicles, hermaphrodite flowers, and fruits retained per panicle at different stages, as a strong and positive correlation existed among them.