MANGO

 MANGO

Currently, we are through Mango season, marked by the arrival of a variety of mango fruits big and small, yellow, greenish yellow, Greenish red, Reddish yellow, nearly ball like, bell like, perfect globose, and so on. Each of them is marked by a typical fragrance known for the variety. In all some 24 varieties are identified as best fruits; the subcontinent is said to have over 1500 varieties, owing to the best fit climate for mangos. Mango has the status of a product for an industry, in view of the massive network handling the fruit from its origin to its ultimate destination in markets - local, provincial, regional, national and International.  Proudly, India is a major exporter of mangos to near and far continents, obliging the needs of mango-lovers, as a national event of marketing.  A large number of mango varieties are cultivated and fielded for consumption –right from the state of early formation [the ‘vadu’ stage], unripe green state for pickle making, ripe fruits as delicacies and completely ripe ones for industrial fruit pulp production for export in cans. Undoubtedly mango is a ‘darling’ of our country’s population who throng markets to buy the item. In northern states, mango marketing is an elaborate activity and about 10 fruits are ‘packed’ in hay containing cartons with the name of the variety prominently printed. Families buy any number of cartons for different varieties. Somehow, southern India continues to follow the old practice of selling by vendors and pricing prescribed by weight in Kg or per dozen fruits. People buy in limited number by weighing the fruits and pay for the weight.

Since mangos hit the market right from the juvenile state to the ripened state, the season for mango lasts from March to early or mid July. As the season progresses, different varieties come to market and a few varieties appear simultaneously.  Buyers in Southern India prefer to pick fruits by their choice of pieces and not as a pack. Another general happening is, some years witness mango boom while some years find low yield. The high and low yield seasons occur in successive years.  Also, Tamarind and Mango years for rich yield occur alternately. There is an observation that if Mangos abound, Tamarind yield declines and vice-versa.  Possibly, factors ideal for mango by way of shine / rainfall are not helpful for Tamarind yield. Also, there are some mango varieties that flower once in 2 years and thus, those varieties yield only in alternate years.

Yet another criterion that determines flowering in Mango orchards relates to late evening ‘lightning’ during late October/ November / early December. Why is it important?  Late evening ‘lightning’ means that in dark, a sudden pulse of lighting [a very brief spell of light] disrupts the dark cycle. That is, instead of a ‘Dark continuum’ the dark phase is split into 2 distinct phases interrupted by a quick flash of light from lightning. Disruption of dark phase induces the formation of flowers and all branch tips are rich in flowers, inviting insects to flowers from the fragrance of flowers. Some such insects have intimate link to fruit cycle of mango ; they leave their  eggs in flowers . Later when we open the ripe fruit the beetle/ insect emerges.  It is a case of excellent co-ordination of plant-animal life cycles.

Besides its popularity as a delicacy mangos do help human nutrition through Proteins, Copper and some antioxidants and vitamins. It would be opportune to indicate here that ‘please do not cast off the fruit skin for obliging your tongue buds. The fibre and associated components there of help your digestion.

 Nutritional value

Mangos –though a ‘forbidden item’ for the Diabetics, the fruit does have its own value as a nutritive supplement.

 Approximately Mangos can provide

About 3 gms fibre, 24 gms of sugar, 1 gm Protein, about 25%of our daily need of Vit- A,  about 75% of our daily need of Vit- C, Potassium about 250 mg and 0.2 mg of Vit- B₆  and about 105 calories energy. That it does not add to our Cholesterol, or any other fat or Sodium is a virtuous feature of Mangos.

Prof. K. Raman