FLOWER
INDUCTION OF
MANGO TREES
Filipino inventor and horticulturist
Born:
August 31, 1939
San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte
Education:
Bachelor of Science in Agriculture – UP Los Baños
Master of Science in Horticulture – University of Georgia
Doctorate in Plant Physiology – University of Hawaii
DR. RAMON CABANOS BARBA
INVENTION: Flower Induction of Mango Trees By
Chemical Spray
A process that caused the flowering and fruiting of mango trees three
times a year, instead on once a year.
1 kilo of potassium nitrate, put it in 100 liters of water, spray it on the
plant once.
Within a week, buds would start forming.
In two weeks, buds are already forming into flowers.
Trees that have been sprayed with potassium nitrate for more than 30
years are still producing.
PATENTS
In an interview released by the World Intellectual Property
Organization in 2011, Dr. Barba recounts that he did not initially file a patent
for his method, wanting farmers to be able to use the technique freely.
Overjoyed with his revolutionary invention that any grower could use, Dr.
Barba completely forgot to protect his discovery: “I forgot all about the
patenting aspect – until I read in the paper that somebody else had patented
potassium nitrate for mango flower induction. I said, ‘But how can this be? I think I
discovered it; everybody in the scientific community thinks I discovered it”
Fortunately because of the records Dr. Barba had, PPO granted the
patent to him.
The novelty of Dr. Barba’s discovery is recognized by a local patent and
in other countries, such as the United States, Australia, New Zealand and
England, but the national scientist did not enforce the patents so that farmers
could use the technology freely.
ECONOMIC IMPACT
The use of potassium nitrate to induce flowering in mango plants has
revolutionized the Philippine mango industry.
From 1974, when it was virtually neglected, it has become our number
one fruit crop, bringing a total revenue of about US$ 46 million.
Today, with an annual production of about 900,000 tons, the Philippines
are among the top ten mango producers worldwide, making the crop one
of the country’s top exports.
In 2014, Dr. Barba was proclaimed as a National Scientist
of the Philippines.
