Mango - the King of Fruits

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Mango is an edible stone fruit produced by the tropical tree Mangifera indica. 

It originated from the region between northwestern Myanmar, Bangladesh, and northeastern India.

Worldwide, there are several hundred cultivars of mango. Depending on the cultivar, mango fruit varies in size, shape, sweetness, skin color, and flesh color, which may be pale yellow, gold, green, or orange.

Mango trees are known for their longevity, with some specimens continuing to bear fruit even after 300 years.

A cultivar is a kind of cultivated plant that people have selected for desired traits and which retains those traits when propagated.

The dates of availability of mangoes vary by geography, climate, and weather.

There are nearly 1000 mango varieties in India. However, about 30 varieties are grown commercially.

In northern India, varieties such as Dashehari, Langra, Chausa, Bombay Green, and Fazri are cultivated; in southern India, Banganapalli, Totapuri, Neelum, Pairi, Suvarnarekha, Mulgoa, Kalapadi, and Rumani; in western India, Alphonso, Kesar, Mankurad, Fernandin, and Vanraj; and in eastern India, commercial cultivation includes Langra, Fazri, Chausa, Zardalu, Himsagar, and Malda.

India ranks first among world's mango producing countries accounting for about 50% of the world's mango production. 

The Indian Council of Agricultural Research has three centres dedicated to mango research. The National Research Centre on Plant Biotechnology in New Delhi is conducting genome analysis of the mango plant to decipher its fundamental biology.

Mango is the national fruit of India, Pakistan and the Philippines, while the mango tree is the national tree of Bangladesh.

Mango is called the king of fruits because of its scrumptious taste and exceptional nutritional profile. It surpasses other fruits in its health benefits, offering the highest levels of essential nutrients like vitamin C, vitamin A, and magnesium.

Mango leaves decorate archways and doors in Indian houses during weddings and celebrations such as Ganesh Chaturthi. Mango motifs and paisleys are widely used in different Indian embroidery styles, and are found in Kashmiri shawls, Kanchipuram and silk sarees. 

In Tamil Nadu, the mango is referred to as one of the three royal fruits, along with banana and jackfruit, for their sweetness and flavor.