Author Topic: Mango Taproot  (Read 2161 times)

Oncorhynchus

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Mango Taproot
« on: April 27, 2020, 01:22:46 AM »
I was watching a video on grafting mangoes and noticed the grafter cut the taproot off the seedling leaving only fibrous roots and when I planted a few new trees recently (3 gallons), they didn’t seem to have taproots.  Is it preferable to cut the taproot off a rootstock? I thought part of the reason for using a seedling over something like air layering was for a strong taproot?

Cookie Monster

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Re: Mango Taproot
« Reply #1 on: April 27, 2020, 10:27:02 AM »
In order to preserve the taproot, you'd really need to graft in situ (ie, plant the seed directly in the ground vs using a pot). Tree pots (long and narrow) can also help to preserve the taproot.

I'm not sure why they would have clipped the taproot. I know that neutering the taproot in mamey / canistel by flipping the seedling upside down and grafting onto the taproot can cause the tree to stay smaller. Perhaps encouraging surface roots could also help with nutrient uptake (by forcing more roots to stay in the nutrient rich top soil)?

However, I haven't found any reason to worry about the taproot one way or the other. The main thing you need to worry about is removing any circling roots (those that take the shape of the pot), as they will eventually strangle the tree, stunt growth, and compromise stability.
Jeff  :-)

simon_grow

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Re: Mango Taproot
« Reply #2 on: April 27, 2020, 01:01:45 PM »
If you want more rapid growth, cutting the tap root will encourage more lateral roots and increase fibrous feeder roots which will speed up growth of the canopy if everything else is taken care of.

If you have an automatic watering system, or if you provide water to your plants as needed, a cut tap root which encourages an increase in root mass may be beneficial.

If you live in an area or grow a species that does not require supplemental irrigation, a longer taproot may be more beneficial. A longer taproot will be able to reach down deep to find the watertable or nearby available sources of moisture.

Simon

simon_grow

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Re: Mango Taproot
« Reply #3 on: April 27, 2020, 01:12:08 PM »
In reality, even if you cut the tap root, the new fibrous root system will form and eventually one or several of the stronger roots will stretch out far like a smaller set of tap roots. This is similar to removing the apical dominance in the canopy.

The opposite is also true and a tap root that is left intact will still grow lateral and fibrous feeder roots but it will take longer for it to do this and the root system will reach out a farther distance.

For better root growth, it is best to let the root zone slightly dry out a bit before watering. This will allow air to reach the root zone and encourage the root system to spread out further in search of water and nutrients.

Simon

strom

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Re: Mango Taproot
« Reply #4 on: April 27, 2020, 01:32:23 PM »
Does this work on other tropical fruit trees with taproots, such as cherimoya?

gnappi

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Re: Mango Taproot
« Reply #5 on: April 27, 2020, 02:28:14 PM »
Does this work on other tropical fruit trees with taproots, such as cherimoya?

My Julie seedling had the taproot broken off by the PO when they yanked the pot out of the ground it's grown beautifully. The only other tree I have without a taproot is my lemon drop mangosteen and it too has not suffered at all.
Regards,

   Gary

simon_grow

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Re: Mango Taproot
« Reply #6 on: April 27, 2020, 03:51:25 PM »
Does this work on other tropical fruit trees with taproots, such as cherimoya?

It works with other trees as well but keep in mind that every different species or even variety may react slightly differently. For varieties with lower vigor, one may want for the tap root to reach close to the bottom of the pot before cutting the tap root but for more vigorous rootstocks, one may want to cut the tap root earlier.

In my experiments, allowing seedlings/rootstocks to initially grow out in longer specially made root pots such as Stuewe tree pots, increased the vigor of the tree and and also increased the intermodal distance. This ultimately gives you a better tree like structure with higher branching. If you want lower branching, a shorter pot may work out better for you.

They were highly unscientific experiments I did so these are more speculative observations. N value was only around 50 per sample set.

Simon

pineislander

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Re: Mango Taproot
« Reply #7 on: April 27, 2020, 07:36:09 PM »
Oncorhynchus I notice you are in SW FL. Depending on your exact soil type and location if you have a seasonally high water table tree tap roots may terminate at about the level where there is an impermeable layer seen as very dark or even black. You might see this at a road cut or excavation but this is typical of the most common soil in the State.
You can also see it where large trees have been dug out of the ground for land clearing.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myakka_(soil)

The seasonally high water table drowns roots and limits their growth.

Oncorhynchus

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Re: Mango Taproot
« Reply #8 on: April 28, 2020, 01:08:29 PM »
Oncorhynchus I notice you are in SW FL. Depending on your exact soil type and location if you have a seasonally high water table tree tap roots may terminate at about the level where there is an impermeable layer seen as very dark or even black. You might see this at a road cut or excavation but this is typical of the most common soil in the State.
You can also see it where large trees have been dug out of the ground for land clearing.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myakka_(soil)

The seasonally high water table drowns roots and limits their growth.

The description of Myakka soil sounds a lot like what I have but I don’t have a high water table. I’m next to a lake and all my trees are planted on the slope leading to the lake. I’ve dug down pretty deep (around 4 feet) during the wet season and have never been able to hit water, even near the edge of the lake. I do have a layer of clay that could inhibit root growth; it’s really easy to dig through when it’s wet but when it’s dry it’s hard as rock. I always try and dig through it to the dark black dirt underneath and break up the clay but I’ve had people tell me that’s the wrong thing to do because I’m effectively creating an in ground pot for my trees and that if I don’t break up the clay I’ll get better lateral root growth.

EddieF

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Re: Mango Taproot
« Reply #9 on: October 05, 2020, 09:55:37 PM »
You guys are great for guys like me.
I'm new to mangos, planting some 3gal & maybe 15gal next month.
Expect some to have spiral roots.
And i have one planted by a squirrel that's 2yrs old & needs to move off property line.
If tap root gets cut or ripped off, won't matter it sounds.
Ed

simon_grow

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Re: Mango Taproot
« Reply #10 on: October 05, 2020, 10:49:44 PM »
If you are digging up a tree that was planted by a squirrel and it’s about two years old, you have take into account the water balance between the roots and shoots.

If you cut and remove a lot of the tap root, you will be losing the moisture it would normally be pulling from the ground. For example, if your surface soil is extremely dry and the tap root had to grow very deep in order to reach the water table, cutting the tap root can cause significant wilting.

If you have been irritating this tree, there are probably a lot of feeder roots near your drip emitters or sprinklers and if you can keep these from being damaged too much, your tree should be ok.

When digging up a tree, I like to give it some vitamin B1 several days or a week before digging it up.

Also, when you dig up a tree, try to notice how much of the root system got destroyed. If you cut off or damaged 30% of the root system, you may want to consider pruning the trees canopy by about 30% or so in order to balance moisture loss.

Also, after digging up a tree or removing an air layer, you may want to consider putting the tree in mostly shade or only very partial sun for about two weeks depending on how much transplant shock is visible. You will then have to acclimate it to full sun again.

Simon


pineislander

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Re: Mango Taproot
« Reply #11 on: October 06, 2020, 09:03:27 AM »
Oncorhynchus I notice you are in SW FL. Depending on your exact soil type and location if you have a seasonally high water table tree tap roots may terminate at about the level where there is an impermeable layer seen as very dark or even black. You might see this at a road cut or excavation but this is typical of the most common soil in the State.
You can also see it where large trees have been dug out of the ground for land clearing.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myakka_(soil)

The seasonally high water table drowns roots and limits their growth.

The description of Myakka soil sounds a lot like what I have but I don’t have a high water table. I’m next to a lake and all my trees are planted on the slope leading to the lake. I’ve dug down pretty deep (around 4 feet) during the wet season and have never been able to hit water, even near the edge of the lake. I do have a layer of clay that could inhibit root growth; it’s really easy to dig through when it’s wet but when it’s dry it’s hard as rock. I always try and dig through it to the dark black dirt underneath and break up the clay but I’ve had people tell me that’s the wrong thing to do because I’m effectively creating an in ground pot for my trees and that if I don’t break up the clay I’ll get better lateral root growth.
Can you find out from neighbors about the soil history of your property? Some areas here there are developments with lakes which were originally limerock mining areas where deep lakes were dug out to mine the rock. They used the overburden to build up surrounding areas so there really isn't a normal soil profile. Eventually they sell the land with the lake as an amenity. Other areas they just dredge out the lakes to build up for homes. The soil profiles in these situations are a real crapshoot no telling what you got even across a yard could be different. There is also the practice of bringing in fill for a house pad which is of unknown 'foreign' origin and may have been compacted by a heavy vibratory roller to 100% compaction. I have this on my new house and will need to remove some close to the house for landscaping.

Guanabanus

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Re: Mango Taproot
« Reply #12 on: October 06, 2020, 04:29:01 PM »
In 1985, a large tree-spade truck moved several dozen mature mango trees from deep sandy soil near US-1 in Boynton Beach, southeastern Florida.
Some of them were seedlings that had grown in situ.  Taproots were checked for but none were found.  All the cones of soil moved had loose sand at the bottoms.
Har

EddieF

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Re: Mango Taproot
« Reply #13 on: October 06, 2020, 05:41:53 PM »
Thanks Simon.
Mine to move by prop line's likely adjusted to plenty of water being it's low on property & this is FL.
Grew surrounded by brazil pepper trees.  I clipped it in half last yr & clipped shoots so it branched nice & low.


Future

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Re: Mango Taproot
« Reply #14 on: October 06, 2020, 06:35:43 PM »
In 1985, a large tree-spade truck moved several dozen mature mango trees from deep sandy soil near US-1 in Boynton Beach, southeastern Florida.
Some of them were seedlings that had grown in situ.  Taproots were checked for but none were found.  All the cones of soil moved had loose sand at the bottoms.

Interesting note Har.

ammoun

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Re: Mango Taproot
« Reply #15 on: October 08, 2020, 10:10:08 AM »
In 1985, a large tree-spade truck moved several dozen mature mango trees from deep sandy soil near US-1 in Boynton Beach, southeastern Florida.
Some of them were seedlings that had grown in situ.  Taproots were checked for but none were found.  All the cones of soil moved had loose sand at the bottoms.

I'm intrigued... I can't think of any explanation :(