Mango flowers are hermaphrodite, monoecious, and are borne from inflorescence. Among all the flowers, only a few develop into fruits. Although mango flowers are hermaphrodites, cross-pollination contributes to the maximum fruit set. They are mostly pollinated by birds and insects such as bees, beetles, ants, wasps, and flies. Mango flowers bloom from December and can extend up to March. However, fruit development starts from January to May depending upon the time of flower initiation.

Mango Flower Initiation:

• Favorable conditions: Flowering depends on temperature, rainfall, and humidity. Rain before and during flowering can delay flowering, while cloudy weather causes flower drop.
• Pruning: Prune in mid-December (pre-flowering stage) to promote floral flush.
• Plant growth regulators: Ethephon, Paclobutrazol, and Alpha Naphthyl Acetic Acid help induce flowering and improve fruit set.

Major Pests affecting Mango Flowers:

Mango Hopper:

Mango hopper is one of the most damaging pests during flowering. Nymphs and adults suck sap from flowers and young stalks, which leads to drying and flower drop.

Symptoms of mango hopper

• Withering and shedding of florets
• Affected flower stalks become sticky due to honeydew secretion, which causes sooty mould development

Mango Hopper Management:

Application – First spray during panicle emergence stage, second spray after 15 days of first spray, and later, depending on pest intensity

Product name	Technical content	Dosage (per acre or per lit water)
Eco neem plus	Azadiractin 10000 PPM	325-450 ml
Anand Dr. Bacto’s Meta (Bio insecticide)	Metarhizium anisopliae	Foliar spray: 2 ml/lit Soil application: 2 lit
Alika Insecticide	Thiamethoxam 12.6% + Lambda-cyhalothrin 9.5% ZC	0.3 ml/lit
Keefun insecticide	Tolfenpyrad 15% EC	2 ml/lit
Vanproz Immune Mango Special	Micronutrients with amino acid, growth-supporting co-factors, and biostimulant	Foliar – 2-3 ml/lit Soil Drenching- 5 ml/lit

Flower gall midge / Inflorescence midge

This pest damages flower buds from the inside. If not controlled early, buds fail to open and fall down.

Symptoms of inflorescence midge

• Maggots penetrate into the flower bud by making holes and feeding on the inner content
• The affected inflorescence is stunted and malformed
• Affected flower buds fail to open and fall down

Management of Inflorescence midge / Flower gall midge:

Application – Three to five sprays at 15-30 days intervals, depending on pest intensity

Product name	Technical content	Dosage (per acre or per lit water)
Neem 1500 PPM Biopesticide	Azadiractin 1500 PPM (0.15%) EC	2-2.5 ml/litre
Anant Insecticide	Thiamethoxam 25 % WG	0.3 – 0.5 gm/lit
Reeva 5 Insecticide	Lambda Cyhalothrin 5 % EC	2 ml/liter
Ethrel	Ethephon 39 SL (39% w/w)	1- 2.5 ml/lit or 200-500 ml/acre
Allbor-Boron 20%	20% Boron in water-soluble form.	Drip: 500 gm Foliar: 1 gm/lit

Mango Mealy Bug

Mealy bug sucks sap from flower parts and can dry the inflorescence quickly.

Symptoms of mango mealy bug

• Pinkish nymph and adult mealy bug present on mango inflorescence
• Nymphs suck the juice from flower pedicels and cause drying of inflorescence

Mango Mealy Bug Management:

Application – Spray during the pre-bloom stage at 15-30 days interval, depending on pest intensity

Product name	Technical content	Dosage (per acre or per liter water)
Greenpeace Neemol (10000PPM) Bio neem oil	Neem Oil extracts (Azardiractin)	Foliar Spray: 1 – 2 ml/lit
Anand Dr Bacto’s Brave (Bio Insecticide)	Beauveria bassiana	Foliar spray – 2.5 ml/lit
Tafgor insecticide	Dimethoate 30% EC	1.5 – 2.5 ml/l
Sivanto Bayer Insecticide	Flupyradifurone	2 ml/lit
Ecohume – Bioactive humic substances 6%	Humic acid 6% and Fulvic acid	Foliar spray: 405 – 485 ml

Mango Flower Webber

Flower webber larvae tie flowers together and damage the inflorescence stalk, which reduces flowering and fruit set.

Symptoms of mango flower webber

• Affected flowers are webbed together by the larva
• Larva penetrates into the inflorescence stalk by making holes

Mango Flower Webber Management:

Application – Three to five sprays at 15-30 day interval, depending on pest intensity

Product name	Technical content	Dosage (per acre or per lit water)
Anshul Bio Finish (Bio Pesticide)	Plant Extracts	Foliar Spray: 3 – 5 ml/lit
Katyayani Chakrawarti	Thiamethoxam 12.6% + Lambda cyhalothrin 9.5 % ZC	0.4 ml/litre
Ekalux Insecticide	Quinalphos 25 % EC	2 ml/litre
Cultar Plant Growth Regulator	Paclobutrazol	For trees < 10 years age: 8 ml/tree dissolved in water For trees > 10 years age: 16 ml/tree dissolved in water (In both cases, apply to the root zone)

Major Diseases affecting Mango Flowers:

Mango Powdery Mildew

Powdery mildew is a common mango flower disease during cool and humid weather. It causes white fungal growth and early flower drop.

Symptoms of powdery mildew

• White superficial powdery fungal growth is seen on the flowers
• Leads to premature dropping of affected flowers

Management of Powdery mildew in Mango flower:

Application – Spray fungicides at 14 – 20 day intervals during the flowering stage and later, depending upon disease infection

Product name	Technical content	Dosage (per acre or per lit water)
Anand Dr. Bacto’s Fluro	Pseudomonas fluorescence	Foliar: 2.5 ml/lit
Geolife Recover Nutri	Natural extracts & antioxidants	Foliar: 0.5 – 1 gm/lit
Karathane Gold	Meptyldinocap 35.7% EC	0.7 ml/lit
Merivon fungicide	Fluxapyroxad 250 G/L + Pyraclostrobin 250 G/L SC	0.4 ml/lit
Multiplex Sulphur Liquid fertilizer	Sulphur 20%	2.5 ml/l
Amibion Flower Booster	Amino Acids & Peptides Mixture	1 – 2 ml/lit

(Note: Multiplex Sulphur Liquid fertiliser is not compatible with all pesticides and fungicides)

Mango malformation

Mango malformation affects floral buds and stops normal flower opening. This can sharply reduce fruit production.

Symptoms of mango malformation

• Affected floral buds are transformed into vegetative buds with a large number of small leaves
• It gives an appearance of a ‘witch’s broom’
• Affected flower buds do not open and remain dull green

Management of mango malformation in mango flower:

Application – Depending upon disease seriousness and mite infestation, spray with 15 – 18 day interval from pre-blossom stage

Product name	Technical content	Dosage (per acre)
Multiplex Nisarga	Trichoderma viride	Foliar: 1ml/lit or 3 g/lit
Avtar Fungicide	Zineb 68% + Hexaconazole 4%	2-2.5 gm/litre
Benmain Fungicide	Carbendazim 50% DF	2 gm/lit
Greenpeace Gulf Micronutrient	Sulfur 80%	1 – 1.5 ml/lit
Planofix Plant Growth Regulator	Alpha Naphthyl Acetic Acid 4.5 SL (4.5% w/w)	0.4ml/litre water (10 ppm) 0.8ml/litre water (100 ppm)

Anthracnose

Anthracnose causes blossom blight in mango and leads to flower shedding. It spreads fast in rainy and highly humid weather.

Symptoms of anthracnose

• Causes ‘blossom blight’ in mango
• Black minute spots appear on the floral parts
• Infected floral parts shed off, leading to partial or complete de-blossoming

Management of Anthracnose in mango flower:

Application – Spray at 15 days interval during flowering to control blossom infection.

Product name	Technical content	Dosage (per acre or per lit water)
Amruth Almonas Liquid (Bio fungicide)	Pseudomonas fluorescence	2 – 5 ml/lit
Cuprina Fungicide	Copper Oxychloride 50% WG	1 gm/lit water
Turf fungicide	Carbendazim 12 % + Mancozeb 63 % WP	1.5-2.5 gm/lit water
Anshul Phalmax	Bio-organics and traces of micronutrients	2ml/lit
Multiplex Kranti Micronutrient fertilizer	Major, Secondary and Micronutrients	2 to 2.5 ml/lit
Anshul Stickmax (Used along with Multiplex Kranti micronutrient fertilizer)	Contains spreading, wetting and sticking agent	1 ml/lit

(NOTE: Though Plant growth enhancers are compatible with most pesticides and fungicides, it is suggested for individual application to have good result)

Important:

• Pest and disease should be controlled in Mango during Flower Emergence to Full Bloom stage by using pesticides and fungicides
• If not controlled at this stage, it will wipe off all the flowers and fruits in the tree
• Foliar fertilizer and growth enhancer/growth boosters can also be used in every 7 – 10 days
• Pesticides and fungicides should not be sprayed during Full Bloom stage since pollination by insects will get affected at this time.

Enhance your mango farming success with our strategies. Read more in [Blooming Success: Strategies for Managing Mango Flowers to Boost Yields]