Main mango cultivars for São Francisco valley conditions
The choice of the mango variety to be planted must be related to the preferences of the consumer market, the productive potential of the variety for a given region, the phytosanitary and post-harvest limitations of the variety, and especially the medium-term trend of the type of fruit to be marketed. Since mango is a plant with a long juvenile period, choosing the wrong variety can mean huge losses in the short term. Thus, the choice of variety is considered one of the most important economic factors for the competitive establishment of mango culture.
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The most suitable varieties are those with high productivity, attractive fruit color, preferably reddish, sweet pulp, with Brix above 17%, little or no fiber, in addition to resistance to handling and transport to distant markets. Other desirable qualities are reduced crown size, regularity of production, and resistance to diseases such as floral malformation, anthracnose, and, in addition to the low incidence of internal pulp collapse. This hose ideotype, as breeders often refer to the ideal and desired type of a variety, is certainly not yet available. It is up to the mangiculturist to look for the variety that associates the greatest number of desired characteristics, or that at least meets the greatest number of characteristics desired by the consumer market.
Currently, Tommy Atkins is the most produced variety and the one that has the largest share in the volume sold in the world, mainly due to its intense color, high yields, and resistance to transport over long distances. In Brazil, mainly in the São Francisco Valley region, commercial plantations incur serious biological (pests and diseases) and economic risks due to the concentration of most of the production being based on just one cultivar. In this way, the diversification of commercial cultivars is of fundamental importance to provide greater sustainability to the mango agribusiness in the region.
Regarding the rootstock, the main desirable characteristics in a variety to be used as such are vigor; high production; adaptation to the region where the orchard is intended to be established; polyembryony; tolerance or resistance to major diseases, and well-developed root system. The choice of rootstock varies from one region to another, depending on the availability of seeds and good compatibility with commercial varieties. Thus, the variety most used as a rootstock in the Submédio São Francisco region is ‘Espada’. The main mango cultivars for the conditions of the São Francisco Valley with great potential for the domestic and/or foreign market are presented and described below.
Sword
One of the oldest and most common Brazilian varieties. The tree is very vigorous, tall, and very productive. The fruit is intense green or greenish yellow, of medium size (around 300 g), with smooth and thick skin. The pulp has a lot of fiber and yellowish color. It has a regular to good flavor (around 18º Brix) and has a prominent place in the domestic market; responds to the management of floral induction with the use of paclobutrazol. It is widely used as a rootstock and the seed is polyembryonic and covered with fibers
Like ‘Espada’, it is one of the best-known Brazilian varieties. The tree has a medium size, slow growth, and a rounded crown. The fruit varies from yellow to pink-red, average weight of around 350 g. The bark is thick and smooth; the pulp is golden yellow and moderately succulent, fibrous, and with a good flavor (21.8º Brix). The seed is polyembryonic. Susceptible to anthracnose. An important cultivar in the Federal District market, being used both for juice and for fresh consumption. It usually produces more than once a time of a year and responds to the management of floral induction with paclobutrazol (Fig. 2).
Haden
Origin Florida, USA. The tree is large and has a dense crown. Fruit ranging from 350 to 680 g, oval, yellow almost covered with a red, mild flavor, with little turpentine and little fiber. Monoembryonic seed. The pulp/fruit ratio is around 0.66. It has low fruit set, which can be minimized by using pollinators such as Tommy Atkins and Palmer. Early, susceptible to anthracnose. Like other varieties selected in Florida, Haden has the problem of internal fruit collapse. Due to low production and its flavor, it achieves high prices in the domestic market.
Keitt
The plant is somewhat erect and the branches grow long and slender. The fruit is large, around 610 g, oval with a slightly oblique apex, yellowish green, rosy red, and good flavor (19º Brix) fiber only around the seed. The color of the fruit is not the most desirable. It is commercialized in the domestic market, however, it has been replaced by other cultivars by producers. Monoembryonic seed. The pulp/fruit ratio is around 70%. Resistant to mildew and susceptible to anthracnose. Its production is late, allowing for an extension of the harvest period. It has a good shelf life (Fig. 4).
Kent
Origin Florida, USA. Upright tree, with an open crown and medium vigor. The fruit is oval, yellowish green, crimson red, large, from 550 to 1000 g (average of 657 g), very tasty (20.1º Brix) and high-quality pulp (almost without fiber), thick skin average, pulp/fruit ratio of 0.62%. Monoembryonic seed. Susceptible to anthracnose and internal fruit collapse and short shelf life. Medium to late ripening cycle Regarding the market, it presents good prospects for exports.
Tommy Atkins
Originating in Florida, the USA, it has a medium to large fruit, 460 g, with a thick skin and oval shape. It presents attractive fruit color (orange-yellow covered with red and intense purple). The pulp is firm, juicy, and has medium fiber content. Resistant to anthracnose and mechanical damage and with a longer shelf life. Early, matures well if harvested immaturely. It presents problems of internal fruit collapse, floral malformation, and lower flavor and Brix content (16 º Brix) when compared to the Palmer and Haden varieties. It is one of the most cultivated mango varieties worldwide for export. It presents ease for floral induction in the hot season, high productivity, and good shelf life. This variety represents 90% of mango exports in Brazil (Fig. 6).
palmer
A semi-dwarf, open-canopy variety, originated in Florida in 1945. In Australia, it accounts for 5% of the mango area, and in Brazil, it experiences a small increase in cultivated area. The fruits have purple skin when “permanently” and red when ripe. The pulp is yellowish, firm, good flavor (21.6º Brix), with little or no fiber. The pulp/fruit ratio is 72%, with medium fiber content and thin skin. The seeds are monoembryonic and long. It has a good shelf life and regular production and is well-accepted in the domestic market. The production is late, allowing for an extension of the harvest period, and responds to the management of floral induction with paclobutrazol
van dyke
Moderately vigorous tree with an open crown. Medium-sized fruit, 300 to 400 g, attractive color (yellow with red tinges). The pulp is firm and without long fibers. It has a pleasant flavor and aroma superior to that of Tommy Atkins. The seed is monoembryonic. There is some irregularity in production. Late fruiting variety (Fig. 8). Currently, it has no significant expression for commercialization.