Thinning intensities to increase the size and weight of mangosteen fruits (Garcinia mangostana L.)

Mangosteen ( Garcinia mangostana L.) is a tropical tree native to Southeast Asia. The main mangosteen producing countries are Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam and Philippines. Lower scale is cultivated in Singapore, Ivory Coast, Madagascar, Sri Lanka, India and Australia. In America countries like Costa Rica, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Panama, Honduras, Guatemala, Cuba, Brazil, and Mexicoalso cultivate mangosteen in low scale. In recent years, its demand in international markets has increased due to the discovery of its multiple medicinal and nutraceutical properties. However, in mangosteen producing countries a high percentage of production corresponds to small fruits weighing less than 76 g, which do not fit the weight and size requirements for export purposes. The objective of the present work was to determine the response of mangosteen trees to thinning intensities to increase the weight and size of the fruit, according to the standards of international markets. Three thinning intensities (TI) 10, 30 and 50% and control without thinning (C) were evaluated, in trees with three initial fruiting ranges (IFR): 40-80; 81-120 and > 120 fruits per tree, prior to thinning. A significant difference was found (P≤0.05) between treatments for weight, diameter, fruits per tree, and fruits ha -1 . Non-significant difference in yield was found. TI 50% and TI 30% increase from 55.3 to 79.2 the percentage of fruits whit a weight ≥ 76 g. The highest crop value is obtained with TI 30%. Thinning is a viable practice to increase the weight and size of the mangosteen fruit and its crop value.