A pilot orchard to help mangosteen trees to produce buds

On the morning of September 27, Dong Nai Department of Science and Technology (DOST) established a special council of science and technology to make a preliminary assessment of the project of “Studying how to make mangosteen trees to produce non-flowering season flowers and deal with the toughness on mangosteens and helping to develop the brand name for the specialty of mangosteens of Dong Nai” led by the the Center for Southeastern Region Fruit Tree Research. 

After 3 years of implementation, results show that the project has been able to study the current state of farming and the factors that affect the flowering of and the toughness on mangosteens. Accordingly, 66.67 % of farming households dealt with the flowering period; however, no synchronous measures were taken, resulting in low efficiency.

The survey found out some of the reasons to make it difficult for mangosteen trees to blossom such as the age of the trees and their leaves, the number of leaves that is born in a year, fertilizing conditions, low temperature conditions, the period of drought that affect the production of flower buds, and the intervention measures to help with the flowering. The toughness on mangosteens is due to some problems like fertilizing conditions, irrigation and rain related conditions, and measures to stimulate the trees to produce buds.

The model to help mangosteen trees to produce flowers and fruits to be harvested 55.71 days earlier than those in the control model

The project has completed the process of helping mangosteen trees to produce flowers earlier and built the process of helping flowers to blossom early and applying the 0.5 ha model in Long Khanh town. Results show that in comparison with the mangosteen trees in the control model in which flowers blossom in a natural way those in the pilot model produce flowers 58.57 days earlier and fruits can be picked 55.71 days earlier and in April instead of June if trees produce flowers naturally and that the rate of producing buds and yield increases and the rate of fruits with toughness is low, bringing out high economic efficiency.

Also, the project has built two hectares of the model to cultivate mangosteen trees towards VietGAP at the Dong Nai Biotechnology Center.

In addition, the project has completed the application for the registration of “Xuan Lap mangosteens” brand name and submitted it to the Cooperative Group of durians and mangosteens of Xuan Lap and is waiting for the certification of the Department of Intellectual Property.

80 training courses on the techniques to cultivate and make mangosteens to flower were opened for 80 fruit growers in Nhan Nghia commune - Cam My district and in Xuan Lap commune - Long Khanh town.

At the meeting, councilors highly appreciated the contributions of opinions that help the research team to study, supplement, and review and complete the project for better results.