References on Mango

Litz R. E., Chavez V. M., Moon P. A.

Author Affiliation: Tropical Research and Education Center, University of Florida, 18905 SW 280 St, Homestead, FL 33031-3314, USA.
  : 232-243

Abstract : The use of somatic cell genetics for improving existing tropical and subtropical fruit cultivars (angiosperms) is dependent upon the availability of regeneration pathways from explants of the adult phase (i.e. maternal) trees. The recovery of embryogenic cultures of mature tropical and subtropical fruit trees is a function of species, cultivar, explant type (and its stage of development) and the induction medium. Embryogenic cultures of tropical and subtropical fruit species have been utilized for propagation, in vitro selection for biotic and abiotic stress resistance, protoplast isolation and culture, genetic transformation and for studies on medium- and long-term storage of plant germplasm. Normal maturation and germination of somatic embryos of these species can be obtained only by understanding the storage characteristics of their seeds, i.e. recalcitrant versus orthodox types. The potential use of somatic embryos for medium-term storage of clonal selections of recalcitrant-seeded tropical and subtropical angiosperm tree species is discussed here in terms of mango (Mangifera indica). Among many temperate forest conifer (gymnosperm) species, embryogenic cultures derived from zygotic embryos of important provenances have been shown to have value for producing clonal propagules. The induction of embryogenic cultures from adult-phase gymnosperm species, on the other hand, is restricted to the tropical and subtropical cycads such as Ceratozamia spp., many of which are highly endangered and no longer exist in the wild, or consist of single specimens that are incapable of sexual reproduction. Recovery of plants via somatic embryogenesis from mature-phase trees of these rare gymnosperms is probably the only way to save these species from certain extinction.