ABSTRACT
The mango Mangifera indica L. (family Anacardiaceae) is one of the leading fruit crops of the world. It is estimated to be fifth in total world production after Musa (bananas and plantain), Citrus sp. (all types), grape, and apple (1,2). The mango is the most important fruit crop of Asia and is grown throughout the tropics and subtropics. Currently, India has the highest production, with approximately 50% of the world’s total (Fig. 1). China, Thailand, Mexico, and Indonesia are also important producing countries, each with annual production exceeding 1 million MT. The export market for fresh mangoes and mango products has expanded rapidly since 1990, and Mexico is the leading exporter of fresh mangoes, currently worth approximately U.S. $160 million (1). Mangoes are also important exports of Brazil, South Africa, Pakistan, Philippines, and India, with an estimated annual value of U.S. $346 million. The leading export destinations include North America, the European Union, Hong Kong, and the United Arab Emirates (Fig. 2). The value of The center of origin of the genus Mangifera is considered to be in Southeast Asia (3), and the greatest Mangifera species diversity occurs in this region, particularly on the island of Borneo, the Indonesian archipelago, and the Malay peninsula. Approximately 69 species have been identified in the genus (4). Mangifera indica is considered to have originated along the northeastern boundary of the genus, possibly in present-day northern Thailand, Myanmar, Bangladesh, and eastern India. Within Mangifera indica, there are two distinct ecogeographical races: a polyem-bryonic type that is tropical and of probable Southeast Asian origin and a monoembryonic type that is subtropical and probably evolved in eastern India, Bangladesh, and Myanmar (3).
