Stenospermocarpy in 'palmer' mango fruits has definition up to the lead pellets stage

Stenospermocarpy in ‘Palmer’ mango fruits can significantly impact the economic viability of mango production, yet remains poorly studied, particularly regarding its etiology and timing. This study aimed to identify possible causes and determine the phenological phase at which stenospermocarpy occurs in ‘Palmer’ mangoes in the Sub-middle São Francisco Valley. The experiment was conducted over two harvests: from November 2017 to April 2018 and from November 2018 to March 2019, in a commercial orchard in Petrolina, Pernambuco, Brazil. A total of 200 closed flowers (1–2 mm ovaries) and 200 fruits were selected for each of three stages: Stage 1 (3–4 mm), Stage 2 (5–8 mm), and Stage 3 (9–10 mm). Data were analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA) (F-test), and means were compared using Tukey test at a 5% significance level. All flowers had normal ovaries, while ‘nubbin’ fruits (Manguito) and embryo death occurred at all fruit developmental stages. Embryo degeneration in ‘Palmer’ mangoes happens post-fertilization and is detectable from the Small Lead stage (3–4 mm), regardless of whether the fruit displays the typical malformed appearance associated with the disorder.