Effects of growing media, and cultivar on developments and quality of mango rootstock.

Abstract

In a successful mango plant establishment, the choice of a strong and healthy rootstock is crucial for subsequent propagation. An experiment was conducted during the 2023 mango seedling growing season at the Sokoine University of Agriculture horticultural sections in Morogoro, Tanzania. The study aimed to evaluate the influence of different growing media and cultivars on the growth and development of quality-certified mango rootstock plants. Ripe local mango fruits were collected from neighbouring farms and sown in polyethylene bags containing a mixture of forest soil, sand, farmyard manure, and sawdust. The experiment followed a randomized complete block design with three replications. Data collected included days to 50% germination, seedling mortality, seedling height, stem girth, and chlorophyll content (measured using the SPAD Unit). Results indicated that using sindano cultivars as rootstock significantly reduced days to germination and increased germination percentage (89.5%) while minimizing seedling mortality (2). Additionally, forest soil contributed to maximum seedling height (43.95 cm), stem diameter (0.52 cm), and chlorophyll content (40.05). The interaction between cultivar and growing media significantly influenced various mango seedling growth parameters.  Bongwa cultivars planted in growing media composed of forest soil alone or combined with farmyard manure and sand produced high-quality, certifiable mango rootstock plants.