Physiological disorders of mango fruit.
Shivashankar S.
Author Affiliation: Division of Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Bangalore 560 089, Karnataka, India.
Horticultural Reviews 42 : 313-347
Abstract : Many physiological disorders in fruit affect both quality and storage life of mango in all growing regions of the world. While the cause and control of some of these disorders have been found, others have eluded an answer so far. The sequence of preharvest events leading to the spongy tissue disorder in 'Alphonso' is dependant on the onset of germination-associated events in the seed and its management is related to down-regulation of seed activity without affecting fruit growth. Fruit disorders such as tip pulp, soft nose, insidious fruit rot, jelly seed, and stem end cavity show symptoms similar to that of spongy tissue disorder and most likely are also caused by the seed. Disorders such as black tip, taper tip, girdle necrosis, and stunted fruit are caused by pollutant gases such as fluoride and sulfur dioxide that emanate from brick kiln fumes. Internal necrosis and fruit pitting disorders are caused by boron deficiency and are managed by supplying this trace element. Ricey disorder, lumpy tissue and black flesh, and fruitlet clustering have seen little research progress. Fruit drop accounts for low productivity in most mango-growing regions of the world, but the exact cause has remained elusive. The mechanism of action of storage disorders such as chilling injury, CO2 injury, and black flesh remain elusive. This chapter discusses physiological and storage disorders of mango fruit. Future research needs are also suggested.