Improving the yield and fruiting characteristics of Ewais Mango Cultivar by spraying with Nano-chitosan and Nano-potassium silicate

Abstract

This study was carried to improve flowering, productivity and fruit quality of the Ewais mango cultivar by foliar spraying with Nano-chitosan and Nano-potassium silicate. This trial included seven treatments, before flowering selected trees were sprayed with Nanochitosan at 50, 100 or 150 ppm, Nano-potassium silicate at 0.4, 0.6, 0.8g/L and control treatment. Under this experiment conditions, the Ewais mango cultivar showed a positive response to the treatments with Nanoparticles, whether for chitosan or potassium silicate, compared to the untreated trees, which gave the lowest results in the characteristics related to flowering, fruit set, yield, fruiting characteristics and the leaves content of chlorophyll, zinc, and potassium. Spraying Nano-potassium silicate at 0.6 and 0.8 g/L were more effective in increasing panicle length and decreasing floral malformation in addition to achieving the highest yield and the best fruit characteristics as compared with un-treated trees. Also, Nanopotassium silicate at 0.8g/L was more effective in enhancing final fruit set than other treatments. Furthermore, spraying the trees with chitosan at a concentration of 50 or 100 ppm showed the nearest or same results as those achieved with Nanopotassium silicate. Application with Nanoparticles of chitosan at a concentration of 50 or 100 ppm lead to improve leaves content of chlorophyll, zinc, and potassium. It is recommended spraying Ewais mango with Nano-potassium silicate at 0.6g/L or Nano chitosan at 100 ppm which decreased floral malformation and achieved the highest yield & the best fruit characteristics.