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Topics - jcaldeira

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51
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Mango Leaf Fungus?
« on: August 16, 2012, 06:05:13 PM »
Some of my mango rootstock seedlings have developed a light grey colour. See photos below.  The leaves eventually wilt and die.  It doesn't look like the powdery mildew photos I've seen on the web.  What is this?  How to treat?





It's the cool, dry season now.  None of my mature mango trees show this problem.

Thanks,
John

52
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Field-grafted Mango
« on: August 13, 2012, 01:04:51 AM »
After field grafts are successful, when is it best to cut off the unwanted parts of the tree?  I grafted a couple of mango seedlings that were planted in the ground late last year.  The grafts took, and I want to get rid of the shoots from the rootstock that I had kept both as a sap draw and a second chance if the grafts failed.

Looking at the photo below, is it best to cut off the ungrafted shoot (on the left) now, or wait until the graft (on the right) has grown more?  I don't want the plant to waste too much energy on the unwanted limb, but don't want to stress the plant too much either.  What is your thinking?



Thanks.   John

53
Tropical Fruit Discussion / How are new mango cultivars developed?
« on: August 03, 2012, 03:05:13 PM »
I am amazed at the number of new mango varieties that have become available in recent years.  Are most of the new varieties developed the old fashioned way, from natural or controlled seed hybridization and limb sports?  Or are they mostly a result of modern techniques such as gene sequencing and other genetic modification methods?

A lot of amazing genetic 'improvements' have been made to corn, soybean and other crops.  Are our tropical fruits resulting from the same processes?


54
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Some Traditional Fijian Fruit Trees (& one mystery)
« on: June 12, 2012, 02:15:50 AM »
I was fortunate enough today to add some traditional Fijian fruit trees to my farm.  I picked up 9 fruit trees and two sandalwood trees at no cost, as part of a reforestation program.  An organization called Conservation International has funding from Fiji Water to reforest so the water company can claim to be "carbon emission negative" in our global ecology.  Here's what I 'think' I have: 

Wi  (Spondias dulcis)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spondias_dulcis


Ivi (Inocarpus fagifer)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inocarpus_fagifer


Tarawau (Dracontomelon vitiense)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dracontomelon
http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?ref=archive&id=66569


Dawa (Fijian longan; Pometia pinnata)
http://www.montosogardens.com/pometia_pinnata.htm


My mystery fruit tree is one the farm hand called "Indian Breadfruit".  The leaves are clearly not breadfruit and a quick internet search did not help me identify it.  Does anyone know what this might be?


Some of these I have already re-bagged and will keep in my shadehouse for another 5 months or so, until the beginning of the rainy seasion.    Just had to share this today.

John

55
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Mamey Sapote Seed - Which end down?
« on: June 03, 2012, 08:58:56 PM »
I have one mamey sapote seed and want want to plant it.  Boning's book "Florida's Best Fruiting Plants" advises to plant the sharply pointed end down, but the two ends of my seed appear very similar in regards to pointyness.  Would someone kindly elaborate on which end goes up or down?

One end shows a small stem scar.  That end might be slightly more rounded, but not much.  Please help.

Thanks,
John

56
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Hass Avocado - Planting from seed
« on: May 13, 2012, 08:45:53 PM »
Are Hass avocado seeds polyembryonic?  I have seen multiple shoots come up from some of my avocado seeds (the large green avocados), and want to grow soem Hass avocado.  If I plant Hass avocado seeds, what are my chances of having the fruit be relatively true to the parent fruit?

Also, is there any reason to believe that Hass avocado would not grow well in a full tropical wet-dry seasonal environment where other avocados do well?

Thanks for any advice.

John

57
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Star Apple - Curled Leaves?
« on: May 04, 2012, 12:29:22 AM »
I have six small star apple trees that have been in the ground 4-6 months.  They all tend to have curled leaves (see photo below).  Is star apple very drought sensitive?  They receive water regularly, and the leaves do not flatten out after watering.  Some are in full sun, other partial shade.  Maybe they need more shade the first few years?  Any ideas?



Thanks,
John

58
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Fruit Trees that can Tolerate Soggy Soil
« on: April 23, 2012, 01:55:50 AM »
I am looking for ideas on which species of fruit I might grown on a tropical tract of land that tends to be very wet.  During the rainy season, the soil can remain soggy for a week or two at a time before roots can breathe.  During the dry season, the water table is probably about one meter (3 feet) down.  It's at the base of a hill, where water weeps from the rock.

Parts of this land range from full sun to full shade - mostly partial shade.   The soil is VERY fertile, a clay-loam.   

Suggestions?

Thanks,
John

59
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Growing Mango from Seed
« on: February 06, 2012, 09:17:21 PM »
I am growing mango from seeds to use as grafting rootstock.  The seeds are a hardy "bush mango" variety and are polyembryonic.  When more than one shoot spouts up, it is best to pinch off the slower-growing one immediately, try to pull the one up without damaging the primary shoot, or let 2 or 3 grow a while before culling them down to one?  What's the best way?

Thanks,
John

60
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Soil-layering Breadfruit
« on: February 02, 2012, 06:17:41 PM »
My first attempt at soil-layering breadfruit has begun.  How long does it normally take for sufficient roots to develop so that the new trees can be cut and moved?

The soil-layered branches are on a neighbor's fallen breadfruit tree.  I dug 3 branches into the ground approximately 8 cm (3 inches), covered with soil and a rock to hold it against winds and retain moisture.  Before covering it, I scratched a little of the bark away on the underside, but did not girdle it as common for air-layering.





Air temperatures range from 25-30 C (75-85 F), and it's the rainy season so it probably won't need help with water for a few months.

How long?  Anything else I can do to improve success?

John

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