Mangifera indica

Why are the seeds of this species difficult? This species has recalcitrant seeds, which have a high critical moisture content and will rapidly lose viability if they are dried.

Mangifera indica (Image: S. Wood, RBG Kew)

Seed Storage

This species has Recalcitrant seeds which cannot be dried without causing a decline in viability. Do not place the seeds under sub-zero temperatures as they will suffer from freezing damage due to their high moisture content.

Researchers have found that viability can be maintained for about four months if seeds are partially imbibed and stored at 15°C.

Germination Requirements

Remove seed covering structures (endocarp) before germination to encourage growth. Germinate on sand at 30/20ºC or ambient room temperature.

The seeds of this species do not display dormancy.

Seed Morphology

Mangifera indica
(Image: S. Wood, RBG Kew)

The fruit (2.5-30 cm) is a fleshy, indehiscent drupe, with a stony endocarp surrounding the seed. The fruit is variable in shape from rounded to ovoid-oblong and is sometimes laterally compressed. The area bearing the pistils near the base of the fruit may develop into a conical projection or beak, above which there is a pronounced sinus. The base of the fruit may be depressed, elevated or intermediate. The exocarp is thick and dotted with glands. The edible mesocarp varies in thickness, texture and flavour from soft, free of fibres, sweet and juicy to fibrous and turpentine-flavoured. The endocarp is thick, woody and fibrous, and may be free from the mesocarp or with fibres extending into it.

See more images of this species at VIRBOGA (The Virtual Botanic Garden) and the Digital Atlas of Economic Plants.

Taxonomy

Family: ANACARDIACEAE

Accepted name: Mangifera indica L.

Synonyms: Mangifera austroyunnanensis Hu, Rhus laurina Nutt.

Common name: mango

References and Links

Baskin, C.C. and Baskin J.M. (1998). Seeds: ecology, biogeography, and evolution of dormancy and germination. Academic Press, USA.
Chirco E. and Turner T. (1986). Species without AOSA Testing Procedures. The Newsletter of the Association of Official Seed Analysts. Vol 60 (2) pp. 2-66.
Purseglove, J.W. (1968). Tropical Crops: dicotyledons. Longman Group Ltd., UK.

AFPD (African Flowering Plants Database) - Conservatoire et Jardin Botaniques de la Ville de Genève, Switzerland, and South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria, RSA: Mangifera indica.
PROTAbase (Plant Resources of Tropical Africa) - Wageningen, Netherlands: Mangifera indica.
SID (Seed Information Database) - Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, UK: Mangifera indica.
Tropicos - Missouri Botanical Garden, USA: Mangifera indica.