MANGO: CHARACTERISTICS, HABITAT, CULTIVATION, DISEASES AND PESTS - BIOLOGY - 2025

The mango (Mangifera indica) is a species of fruit tree, belonging to the Anacardiaceae family. It is native to India, although it is currently widely distributed in tropical and subtropical areas.

Regarding its etymology, an origin for both the scientific name and the common name is documented. Now, it is considered that Mangifera comes from the Latinized version of the Malay name of the fruit and the Latin suffix fer which refers to "produce" (production of fruits), and indicates from the Latin indicus - a - um which means from the India.

Mangifera indica L. tree Source: pixabay.com

For its part, the common name "mango" in Spanish is the result of the English homonym "mango" and, in turn, from the Portuguese "manga", these being the first to introduce this fruit in America.

Now, the fruit of the mango tree is widely used and recommended for human consumption due to its nutritional composition. It consists of vitamins A, B, B6, and C, antioxidants, immune stimulants, probiotic fiber and natural sugars, among others.

Fruit of Mangifera indica L. Source: pixabay.com

characteristics

Root

It has a main root that penetrates the soil 6 to 8 meters and superficial roots that extend in a radius of approximately 10 meters from the trunk. This allows the tree to withstand low humidity environments.

Trunk

It is a more or less straight tree, which can reach 10 to 30 meters in height and has a diameter of 20 to 30 cm. The color of the bark varies between a light gray tone to a brown tone, with resinous latex. At first its surface is smooth and later, with age, it cracks longitudinally or with reticulated grooves.

Mango tree bark. Source: Atamari

Cup

It has a dense and broad crown, oval or globular in shape. Its twigs are thick and robust, usually found in alternating groups of long and short internodes. They are rounded, smooth, yellowish green and opaque, with the presence of hair when young.

Leaves

They are alternate, persistent, or semi-persistent, and are hairless, irregularly spaced along the twigs. They are elliptical in shape and measure 6-20 cm by 4-15 cm on average. They have the entire edge and the rounded apex and base. Petioles are 1 to 2 cm long, oblong, lanceolate, and leathery. They have a flattened upper part and a swollen base.

Leaves of the mango tree. Source: pixabay.com

For this species there is a robust and conspicuous midrib and 12 to 30 pairs of somewhat prominent lateral ribs. They are characterized by the resinous smell that they emit when they are crushed. As for their color, when they are young they are reddish purple and later they turn dark green.

Inflorescence

They appear in panicles or branched racemes on terminal or axillary peduncles, between 10 and 25 cm long. There are cases in which lateral inflorescences may appear. Their rachis or main axes are pink to purple in color, as well as sometimes they can also be yellowish green, rounded and pubescent.

As for its bracts, these can be oblong - lanceolate or ovate - oblong, pubescent, 0.3 to 0.5 cm long.

This type of tree has a large number of floriferous branches, which in turn carry thousands of flowers.

Inflorescence of the mango tree. Source: pixabay.com

Flower

They appear in panicles or clusters. They are yellowish-green, polygamous, 0.2 to 0.4 cm long and 0.5 to 0.7 cm in diameter, with 4 or 5 sepals and petals.

Regarding their sepals, these are free, droopy, and can be ovate or ovate - oblong, somewhat acute or obtuse, concave, with visible hairs 0.2 to 0.3 cm long and 0.1 to 0.15 cm Wide. They are usually yellowish green or light yellow in color.

In reference to the petals, they are red or pink, hairy, linear and 9 to 13 mm long.

Now, its male flowers are made up of 4 to 5 stamens, of which only 1 or 2 are fertile. Its female flowers are made up of a globose ovary and a style.

With regard to anthesis, it occurs either at night or in the early hours of the morning.

Mangifera indica L. flowers Source: Lalithamba from India

Fruit

Its fruit consists of a fleshy, monoembryonic drupe, variable in shape and dimension (its shape is similar to a kidney). It is usually ovoid - oblong, 4 to 10 cm in length and 4 to 8 cm in diameter. It is green, yellowish green and different shades of pink, red and purple.

It has a very juicy edible mesocarp, yellow or orange with fibrosities (although these depend on the variety). Its weight varies from 150 grams to 2 kg.

Fruit of the mango tree. Source: CostaPPPR

Seed

Like the fruit, the seed is also kidney-shaped, ovoid or oblong, elongated, covered by a thick and woody endocarp with an external fibrous layer. Its testa is thin and permeable. The seed can measure up to 2.5 cm in length.

Taxonomy

The species Mangifera indica L., in addition to being commonly known as "mango" is also documented as: ambó, manga, mangrove, mangotina, palo de mango, mamgueira, mangueiro.

Its taxonomic description is as follows:

Kingdom: Plantae

Phylum: Tracheophyta

Class: Magnoliopsida

Order: Sapindales

Family: Anacardiaceae

Genus: Mangiferous

Species: Mangifera indica L.

Habitat and distribution

Regarding its habitat, the mango tree presents certain limitations when growing in areas greater than 1600 meters above sea level, therefore it requires mild climates without frost. It does not tolerate the shade.

Now, in terms of its distribution, this species is native to the Indomalaya region. The cultivation dates back more than 4000 years in India, where wild populations can be found, as well as about 1000 varieties of the species closest to it, M. sylvatica.

The expansion of the species towards the east could happen before the Christian time. Its westward extension must have been in a more recent period, possibly when the Portuguese and Spanish colonizers took it to all the areas where they settled. Today they are widely distributed in the tropics and subtropics of the world.

Culture

This tree can be propagated by seed and, in the case of varieties, the grafting technique is used.

- Propagation by seed

In the case of propagation by seeds, seeds without bark are used. The best way to remove it is to cut the edges of the capsule with a pruning shears and then plant it in black plastic bags preferably 20 to 25 cm deep and 18 to 20 cm in diameter.

The soil to be used should preferably be light and mixed with peat. The seeds should be buried 2.5 to 3.5 cm deep. This should be left in little sun and in a humid environment. From sowing to sprouting it usually takes 2 or 3 weeks.

It is important to plant the seeds immediately, preferably the days after the pulp has been released, since the germinative power of the seeds is lost very quickly.

- Propagation by grafting

Approach or gusset grafting methods can be used. The best time for bud grafting is mid-spring and summer, as the plants are actively growing.

Therefore, the right time to place the grafts is when the plant begins to sprout, those new shoots being a vinous color. This indicates that the bark can be easily separated from the wood.

It is important to consider that the graft wood is mature and that the tip of the twig from which it is taken is not actively growing.

Now, the incision in the pattern should be made in the shape of an inverted T or T, where the bud should be 3.5 to 4 cm in length. After being inserted, it is tied. After 3-4 weeks, the bud needs to be examined.

Grafting technique. Source: Sorruno

It is recommended that, during the nursery stage, a nitrogen fertilizer is applied every two months, in addition to making foliar applications of boron, which can be combined with fungicides and insecticides.

- Definitive planting

It is important to bear in mind that transplanting the plant is a delicate operation and its harvest depends on it.

Now, as regards the establishment of the Mangifera indica plants in the final terrain, they must be carried in a real frame with distances of 8 by 8, 10 by 10 or 12 by 12 meters.

Regarding the moment of being transplanted, it is pertinent to be carried out at the beginning of the rainy season, after reducing the foliar system, and applying a fertilization with a product high in phosphorus.

After 1 or 2 months and at the end of the rains, it is necessary to apply nitrogen. In the second year it is important to start a fertilization plan according to the characteristics of the farm, in addition to controlling the acidity by applying calcium carbonate.

- Edaphoclimatic requirements

Floor

In particular, it requires moderately deep soils with good drainage. This plant adapts to soils of different kinds and textures. However, silt-sandy and clay-sandy are ideal for root penetration and anchoring.

Regarding pH, this plant supports slightly acidic to neutral soils (between 5.5 to 7), with availability of microelements such as iron and magnesium.

Water needs

These depend on the type of climate of the area where the plant is found. Since, if you are in areas with alternating dry and wet periods, a small amount of water is enough in the dry period.

On the other hand, in colder areas the watering should be more copious, but taking into account that an excess of humidity can be detrimental to fruiting.

It happens that this species requires more water supply in its first days of life, reaching approximately 16 to 20 liters per week per tree; being more demanding in the field than in the nursery.

However, the mango tree adapts to variable rainfall conditions, with minimum annual rainfall ranging from 1000 to 1200 mm.

There are reports that indicate the tolerance of drought by this species. This tolerance is attributed to the presence of laticifers, which allow the leaves to retain their turgor through an osmotic adjustment, which avoids the internal water deficit.

Temperature

In this sense, mango is grown efficiently in warm tropical temperatures. The ideal temperature for its development ranges between 24 ° C and 26 ° C. It also grows well in subtropical areas with temperatures between 17 ° C and 22 ° C.

In relation to the coldest areas, it is advisable for its optimal development that the temperature of the coldest month is between 10 to 15 ° C.

Health benefits

The fruits of the mango tree are recommended as food for human consumption due to their high nutritional content. Due to its components it is used to:

- Prevent cancer thanks to the antioxidants it contains.

- Help control cholesterol levels.

- Encourage skin and blood cleansing.

- Improve colon health thanks to the fiber it contains.

- Improved digestion and weight loss, as well as to regulate diabetes problems.

- Strengthen the immune system.

- Improve concentration and memory thanks to its high content of glutamic acid.

Mango juice has vitamins, minerals, and other essential health benefits.

Source: pixabay.com

Diseases and pests

The Mangifera indica species is not very vulnerable to attack by pests and diseases. However, the following are presented:

- Pests

Mango mealybug (

This pest pierces the fruit and causes discoloration of the fruit. It forms colonies, which join in the form of scales and make it difficult for the chemical product applied to control it to penetrate.

Fruit fly

This is one of the pests that brings the most problems to mango cultivation. Produced by Ceratitis capitata and Anastrepha froterculus, these flies pierce the pericarp and lay their eggs which, upon hatching, pass to the pericarp and feed on the pulp of the fruit.

Seed weevil

This is an oval-shaped beetle (Sternochetus mangifera) that pierces the pericarp. Then their larvae pass through the fruit reaching the seed.

Flower moths

Two moths of the Cryptoblabes and Prays genera are documented that attack mango flowers. They cause serious damage to the inflorescence, devour the petals and stamens, and gnaw on the ovaries.

- Diseases

Anthracnose

This disease is caused by the fungus Colletotrichum gloesporioides and attacks the fruit in the rainy season. It generates black spots both on the leaves and on the flowers and fruit.

Regressive death

As its name indicates, it attacks the plant, advancing downward to the trunk, causing the death of vascular tissue. It causes necroticism and drying of branches.

Mango witch broom

This disease is caused by the fungus Fusarium decemcellulare, which is manifested by the excessive proliferation of buds.

Mango bacteria

It is a disease produced by the Erwinia bacteria, which produces the premature fall of small fruits with rot at the peduncle, trunk and stem, as well as the presence of gummy exudate.

Mango powdery mildew

It is characterized by the loss of inflorescences and tender tissues.

References

1. Avilan L. 1974. Four years of fertilization in mango (Mangifera indica L.) in soils of the Maracay series. Tropical Agronomy, 24 (2), 97-106.
2. Bally S. 2006. Mangifera indica (Mango). Species profiles for pacific island agroforestry, 1-25.
3. Catalog of Life: 2019 Annual Checklist. 2019. Mangifera indica L. Taken from: catalogueoflife.org
4. León J. 1968. Botanical foundations of tropical crops (N ° 18). II CA Library Venezuela.
5. Olivas-Aguirre F., Wall-Medrano A., González-Aguilar G., López-Díaz, J., Álvarez-Parrilla E., Rosa, L. and Ramos-Jiménez A. 2015. Hydrolyzable tannins: biochemistry, nutritional aspects and analytical and health effects. Hospital Nutrition, 31 (1), 55-66.
6. Pino J., Mesa J., Muñoz Y., Martí M., & Marbot R. 2005. Volatile components from mango (Mangifera indica L.) cultivars. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 53 (6), 2213-2223.
7. Ribeiro S., Queiroz J., de Queiroz M., Campos F., & Sant'Ana, H. 2007. Antioxidant in mango (Mangifera indica L.) pulp. Plant Foods for Human Nutrition, 62 (1), 13-17.
8. Rondón V. & González M. 2009. Endophytic mycobiota associated with the cultivation of the 'Haden' mango (Mangifera indica L.) in eastern Venezuela. UDO Agrícola Scientific Journal, 9 (2), 393-402.
9. Tharanathan R., Yashoda H. & Prabha T. 2006. Mango (Mangifera indica L.), “The king of fruits” - An overview. Food Reviews International, 22 (2), 95-123.