Scientific Cultivation of Mango (Mangifera indica)

Basic Information

• Botanical Name: Mangifera indica
• Chromosome Number (2n): 40
• Family: Anacardiaceae
• Origin: Indo-Burma
• National Fruit: India
• Other Names: King of Fruits, Bathroom Fruit
• Fruit Type: Drupe (Stone fruit)
• Edible Part: Mesocarp
• Nutrient Richness: Excellent source of Vitamin A (4800 IU)

Botanical & Genetic Information

• Chromosome Number: 2n = 40 (as mentioned), but polyploidy is rare.
• Growth Habit: Evergreen, large, deep-rooted tree with a dense canopy.
• Pollination: Entomophilous (insect-pollinated); honeybees and houseflies are key pollinators.

Area & Production

• India ranks 1st in area and production of mango globally
• India contributes ~57% to global mango production
• Mango contributes ~40% of total fruit production in India
• Top Producing State: Uttar Pradesh (~23% of national production & highest productivity)

Nutritional Value per 100g (Edible Portion)

• Energy: ~60 kcal
• Vitamin A: 4800 IU
• Vitamin C: ~36 mg
• Carbohydrates: 14–16 g
• Fiber: 1.6 g
• Other: Contains small amounts of Vitamin E, K, B6, Folate, and Potassium.

Climatic Requirement

• Climate: Tropical to subtropical (Climacteric fruit)
• Altitude: Grows well up to 1400 m above sea level
• Rainfall: 750–2500 mm annually, but well-distributed
• Frost: Highly sensitive – frost can severely damage young plants
• Flowering Time: November–February depending on the region
• Fruit Setting Temp: Ideal 20–25°C.
• Optimum Temperature: 24–27°C
• Soil Requirement: Well-drained loamy soils are most suitable

 Important Mango Varieties

Hybrid Varieties

Rootstock & Dwarfing

• Dwarfing Rootstocks: Rumani and Vellaikolumban
• Graft Compatibility: Polyembryonic rootstocks preferred for uniformity in vegetative propagation

 Regional & Biological Characteristics

• North Indian Cultivars: Monoembryonic, self-incompatible, alternate bearers
• South Indian Cultivars: Polyembryonic, self-compatible, regular bearers

Examples:

• Regular Bearing Varieties: Neelam, Totapuri, Amrapali, Banglora, hybrids
• Alternate Bearers: Langra, Dashehari, Bombay Green, Mallika
• Off-season Bearing: Niranjan, Madhulika
• Polyembryonic Varieties: Olour, Goa, Chandrakaran

Note: Rumani is used for dwarfing in Dashehari.
In Kanyakumari & Madurai (TN) – 2 crops/year.

Latest/Notable Varieties (Additional)

• Arunika: Dwarf and high-yielding hybrid developed by CISH
• Pusa Arunima: Early bearing, dwarf, attractive fruits
• Pusa Surya: Ideal for high-density planting
• PKM-1: Released by Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, suitable for Tamil Nadu conditions

Pollination & Flowering

• Highly cross-pollinated; mainly by house flies
• Only 0.1% flowers develop into mature fruit
• Langra: Highest number of perfect flowers
• Rumani: Lowest number of perfect flowers

Propagation

• Commercial Method: Veneer grafting (April–October)
• Recent Method: Epicotyl stone grafting (Konkan region)
• Other Methods: Inarching, Softwood grafting
  • Softwood grafting standardized by Dr. R.S. Amin (GAU, Gujarat)

High-Density Planting (HDP)

• Spacing: Amrapali – 2.5 × 2.5 m
• Plant Population: Up to 1600 plants/ha
• Training: Modified central leader system
• Management: Regular pruning and canopy management required

Micro propagation; Mango is recalcitrant to tissue culture, but some success has been achieved using embryonic axes or shoot tip culture

Planting & Spacing

• Planting Time: June–July (Monsoon)
• Spacing: Desi: 10–12 m, Grafted: 8 × 8 m, Amrapali: 2.5 × 2.5 m (1600 plants/ha)

Fruiting & Maturity

• Maturity Index: Tapaka
• Fruiting Starts: Grafted: 5–6 years, Seeded: 10–12 years

Harvesting & Storage

• Harvesting Period: March to mid-August
• Storage Conditions: Temp: 13°C, RH: 85–90%, Storage Period: Up to 2–3 weeks
• Freezing Point: 1°C
• VHT (Vapour Heat Treatment): Used against fruit flies and stone weevils

Physiological Disorders & Management

• Insect Pests; Mango Hopper – Major pest, Mango Mealy Bug – Use grease bands in Dec–Jan
• Diseases & Control; Powdery Mildew: Spray Karathane @ 0.1% (Sulphur fungicide), Anthracnose: Use Bordeaux mixture

Major Physiological Disorders

• Lumpy fruit: Due to irregular irrigation or poor nutrition
• Biennial bearing (Alternate bearing): Managed by paclobutrazol (cultar) @ 3.2 ml/m canopy diameter – applied in September–October as soil drench
• Mango malformation: Two types
  • Vegetative – due to mites
  • Floral – due to Fusarium moniliforme var. subglutinans
• Control: NAA (200 ppm) + Deblossoming + Pruning + Fungicide

Post-Harvest Treatments

• Hot Water Treatment (HWT): 48°C for 1 hour to control fruit fly eggs
• Calcium treatment: CaCl₂ dips extend shelf life
• Storage at Controlled Atmosphere (CA): 5% CO₂ + 3% O₂ at 13°C extends shelf life up to 4 weeks
• Ethylene Treatment: 100 ppm for uniform ripening

Export & Marketing

• Export Varieties: Alphonso (to Middle East and Europe), Kesar, Banganapalli
• Major Exporting States: Maharashtra, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh
• APEDA: Promotes mango exports and provides VHT facilities
• Geographical Indication (GI) Tags: Alphonso (Ratnagiri), Malihabad Dasheri, Banaganapalle