Redefining an Ancient Crop: The Future of the Mango

Abstract

Commercial mango ( Mangifera indicaL.) growers in the Western Hemisphere are facing ever-increasing challenges for profitability with the export cultivars ‘Tommy Atkins’, ‘Haden’, ‘Kent’, ‘Keitt’ and ‘Ataulfo’. The entry of the yellow-skinned cultivars ‘Ataulfo’ and ‘Madame Francis’ into the export market opened new doors and focused attention on the search for new cultivars that will return the industry to a profitable status. Over 400 named cultivars and selections of Mangifera indicaand 12 Mangiferaspp. have been collected around the world and successfully cultivated within the genetic collection of Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden in South Florida. This collection, the result of over 20 years of collecting and breeding, could be integral to the redefinition of the commercial mango industry in the decades to come. Annual orchard pruning, nitrogen management and the use of bloom-inducing chemicals are increasingly impacting the grower’s ability to achieve quality. New cultivars suitable for the industry must also be weighed against these management issues to allow the grower to remain profitable. The trend in the industry is a vertical integration from the field to the market. New cultivars, either patented or trademark protected, are integrated into relationships between specific producers and importing companies. These relationships allow for accountability within the market and greater involvement of the grower in the direction of the industry. Significant challenges remain for the identification and testing of new cultivars in different regions and climatic conditions and for the creation of international standards for import and export.