History
There are over 500 named varieties of the mango. The generic name is derived from ‘mango’, the Indian name for the fruit, and the Latin ‘fero’ (‘I bear’).The mango is known as the 'king of fruit' throughout the world. The name 'mango' is derived from the Tamil word 'mangkay' or 'man-gay'. When the Portuguese traders settled in Western India they adopted the name as 'manga'.The cultivated mango probably originated in Indo-Burma, notably the Assam-Chittagong Hills, where many mango wild relatives still grow, but its progenitors are not known. The mango has been cultivated in India for several millennia; it spread to other parts of Southeast Asia about 1500 years ago and to the east coast of Africa about 1000 years ago. Further spread to Australia, East Africa and the Americas has been within the last few hundred years. For example, the 1st introduction to Zanzibar and Malindi, Kenya, took place in the 15th century; to Jamaica in 1782; and to Florida, USA, in 1833.The mango tree is long-lived, some specimens are more than 250 years old and are still fruit bearing.
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Description
Mango is a tall evergreen tropical tree growing up 30 - 100 feet tall with a dense, heavy crown. The trunk is stout and the bark brown, smoothish, with many thin fissures; thick, becoming darker, rough and scaly or furrowed; branchlets rather stout, pale green and hairless. Inner bark light brown and bitter. The evergreen drooping leaves resemble those of the peach tree. Coppery to purplish-red at first but becoming green at maturity, they are lance-shaped and often slightly curved. The male - and hermaphroditic flowers of mango, small ivory and very numerous, and fruit clusters hang outside the foliage canopy. Mango flowers are visited by flies, bats, bees, wasps, butterflies and other insects. The single, compressed-ovoid seed is encased in the white fibrous inner layer of the fruit. |
Range
The mango is native to southern Asia, especially Burma and eastern India. It spread early on to Malaya, eastern Asia and eastern Africa. Mangos were introduced to California (Santa Barbara) in 1880. |
Habitat
The mango tree grows best in full sun, good drainage and on different types of soil. Mango tolerates drought and salt tolerance. The mango thrives in both the subtropics and the tropics. |
Cultivation
To grow mangos from seed, remove the husk and plant the seed (before it dries out) with the hump at soil level. The seeds normally germinate in two to four weeks, and do best with bottom heat. Multiple polyembryonic seedlings should be carefully separated as soon as they have sprouted so not to loose the cotyledons. Seedling mangos will bloom and bear in three to six years. Some success at grafting can be obtained in April and September, but better luck is more likely during May through August. Small plants with a diameter of a pencil graft well with the common whip graft. On larger trees the crown groove bark graft allows several scions to be put on at once. Fully grown trees may be top worked by crown or groove bark graft, or prune hard and whip graft sprouts later.
Plastic bagging with a few drops of moisture improves the graft's chances of being successful. Graft in the second year, using cleft, side or tongue (splice) graft in midsummer. Scion and stock should be swelling for a new flush of growth. Grafts are most successful if the leaves are allowed to remain below the graft, but remove suckers. Use pencil-sized scions of hard wood with three or four nodes. Cover with loose punctured white paper bag for shade. If top working, do not dehorn the entire tree at one time; leave at least two fully leafed branches intact. Marcottage is feasible in humid climates or greenhouses, but results in few plants. Although budding is rare in California; it can be done by using a shield bud in an inverted T, at the moment the tree begins a new growth flush. Cuttings are rarely successful, although experiments have shown that rooting may be improved by treating with ethylene, which destroys the root-inhibiting hormone in the cambium. |
Flowering season
The yellowish or reddish flowers are borne in inflorescences which appear at branch terminals, in dense panicles of up to 2000 minute flowers. They are in bloom from Late Winter to Early Spring. |
Pests and Diseases
Scale, mealy bugs and mites are frequent pests in the greenhouse and orchard. In the greenhouse, thrips often turn leaves rusty brown. Malathion is the conventional spray for insect pests; sulfur works on mites. Gophers are attracted to the roots. The flower panicles, young fruit and leaves are subject to powdery mildew (Oidium mangiferae), especially in rainy weather or frequent fog. A spray of powdered kelp at bud break will often control it. Sodium bicarbonate and fungicide sprays are also effective. Trees planted in pavement openings seldom develop mildew. Bacterial spot (Colletotrichum oleosporides) distorts and turns developing leaves black and disfigures developing fruit. Infection may spread to fresh young growth. Anthracnose can be controlled with bimonthly applications of copper spray or captan as a growth flush begins, and until the flowers open. Resume spraying when the fruits begin to form. Mango trees are very sensitive to root loss that can occur from digging, transplanting or gopher damage. "Soft nose," a physical disorder of shriveling at the fruit apex, seems associated with excessive nitrogen in soil. Exposed fruits sunburn in high temperatures. |
Parts Used
The fruit, bark, latex, leaves and the seeds of the mango are used for its commercial and medicinal purposes. |
Medicinal Applications
- An infusion of the leaves or bark helps against hypertension and promotes a good blood circulation.
- Charred and pulverized leaves make a plaster to remove warts and also act as a styptic.
- Seeds are used to treat stubborn colds and coughs, obstinate diarrhoea and bleeding piles.
- The bark is astringent, homeostatic and antirheumatic.
- The bark contains mangiferine and is astringent and employed against rheumatism and diphtheria in India.
- The resinous gum from the trunk is applied on cracks in the skin of the feet and on scabies, and is believed helpful in cases of syphilis.
- Extracts of unripe fruits and of bark, stems and leaves have shown antibiotic activity.
- In some of the islands of the Caribbean, the leaf decoction is taken as a remedy for diarrhea, fever, chest complaints, diabetes, hypertension and other ills.
- A combined decoction of mango and other leaves is taken after childbirth."
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Commercial Applications
- The fruit is also used to flavour fish and meat dishes.
- Young leaves are cooked as a vegetable.
- Seed kernels are a by-product of processing; they can be used as feed for cattle and poultry.
- It is an important honey plant, secreting large quantities of nectar.
- The wood makes excellent charcoal and firewood.
- The wood is used for many purposes, including indoor construction, meat-chopping blocks, furniture, carpentry, flooring, boxes, crates and boat building (canoes and dugouts).
- The fruit is eaten raw and is used most of the Indian cuisine.
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Astrology
According to the astro reports the mango is under the dominion of the Venus planet. |
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Religious and Cultural Significance
The mango has strongly associated with the spiritual and cultural life of India. It has been found from the Indus Valley Civilization. It is associated with the Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism. Its leaves, fruits, wood and twigs were used in the Hindu rituals and ceremonies. | |
Folklores and Myths
The Mango tree plays a sacred role in India; it is a symbol of love and some believe that the Mango tree can grant wishes. In the Hindu culture hanging fresh mango leaves outside the front door during Ponggol (Hindu New Year) and Deepavali is considered a blessing to the house. Mango leaves are used at weddings to ensure the couple bear plenty of children (though it is only the birth of the male child that is celebrated - again by hanging mango leaves outside the house).Hindus may also brush their teeth with mango twigs on holy days (be sure to rinse well and spit if you try this at home - toxic).
Many Southeast Asian kings and nobles had their own mango groves; with private cultivars being sources of great pride and social standing, hence began the custom of sending gifts of the choicest mangos. The Tahis like to munch mango buds, with Sanskrit poets believing they lend sweetness to the voice. Burning of mango wood leaves and debris is not advised - toxic fumes can cause serious irritation to eyes and lungs. Mango leaves are considered toxic and can kill cattle or other grazing livestock. In India, a certain shade of yellow dye was attained by feeding cattle small amounts of mango leaves and harvesting their urine. Of course as stated above, this is a contraindicated practice, since mango leaves are toxic and cattle are sacred. It has since been outlawed. | |
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