What was it all about?

This project investigated how climate and orchard management practices can be used to support more reliable mango production.

Research conducted in commercial orchards across major growing regions investigated temperature requirements for flowering, chemical approaches to influence flowering time, growing degree day (GDD) requirements for fruit development, and improved methods for assessing harvest maturity. The project also supported the training of a PhD researcher with strong industry involvement.  

Field trials identified temperature thresholds associated with flowering in key mango cultivars and showed that flowering could be influenced using specific chemical treatment programs when applied under suitable conditions. The project also validated and developed GDD targets to improve harvest timing predictions across a range of cultivars and production regions. Recommendations were made for using flesh colour targets and durable Pantone® colour chips as practical harvest maturity tools.  

The project addressed grower concerns about managing mango production in a warming climate, where changing temperatures may affect flowering reliability, harvest timing and cultivar suitability. Findings are expected to support more informed orchard management decisions, improve crop scheduling and harvest planning, and help growers adapt to future climate conditions.