Bwa-yo - Société Audubon Haiti

Figure 11.9 The commercial 'Corne' variety
is grafted onto the common and broadly
adapted 'FiI' variety. Inset - Close up of
graft union.
Mango 93
common rootstock in Haiti is the 'FiI,'
being widely available and adapted to a
broad range of growing conditions.
Other varieties are used, depending
upon local preferences. Rootstocks are
propagated from seeds that are planted
as soon as they are mature, though storage
in polythene bags at 21 0 C is possible
for about 2-4 weeks. The kernel is
extracted from the tough endocarp and
germinated preferably in a sterile medium,
being transplanted about a month
later to polythene bags. However, most
nurseries plant the seed kernel directly
in the bags. Budding is best done when
rootstocks are 2-3 weeks old and in the
succulent red stage. Most grafting
methods in Haiti use rootstock that has
reached stem diameters 6-8mm with
seedling heights 30-40 cm.
Budwood is prepared from hardened
terminal growth, 6-10 mm in
diameter, which the leaves have been
removed 2-3 weeks prior. Ringing the
base of the shoot 10 days before severing
increases carbohydrate reserves in
the budwood and promotes faster heal­
ing (Hartmann and Kester, 1983). Techniques and training materials for grafting mango
varieties have been experimented in Haiti by non-governmental organizations such as
the Organisation de Rehabilitation Environment (ORE) and CARE. In an experiment of
grafting and budding methods, Blaise (1990) found no significant differences in successful
takes between the veneer graft and the cleft graft (both greater than 50%), but
did find that the latter grafting method had more disease problems in the nursery. T-budding
methods were unsuccessful in the experiment.
Inferior varieties can be converted to more productive commercial varieties by topworking
the trees. The advantage is that the top-worked plant returns to flowering and
fruiting faster than one started from grafted seedlings, allowing for a faster conversion
to more profitable cultivars. Veneer grafting has been successful in top-working mature
mango trees in Haiti (Fig. 11.9). However, it is preferable to work with young, healthy
wildings and allow them room for growth. Conversion ofold, mature stems runs the risk
of their being diseased and thus causing the grower an economic loss.
Air-layering and cuttings are less frequently used for mango, though layering has
been shown to be successful with methods outlined in Mukherjee and Bid (1965). Using
cuttings is difficult, but can be done, with leafy cuttings under mist with lEA hormone
treatments. These methods are not considered economically feasible for large-scale
production.