The mango in French-speaking West Africa: varieties and varietal composition of the orchards.
Rey J. Y., Diallo T. M., Vannière H., Didier C., Kéita S., Sangaré M.
Author Affiliation: Cirad, département Flhor, TA 50/PS4, Bd de la Lironde, 34398 Montpellier Cedex 5, France.
Fruits (Paris) 59 : 191-208
Abstract : The mango tree is one of the most widespread fruit trees in West Africa. A history of its introduction into that area was recently published. To follow upon this document, the presented analysis was devoted to the principal cultivars that are cultivated there today and to the impact of the historical and commercial factors on the cultivars composition of the orchards. Some definitions. In precondition to an inventory of the cultivars, certain terms making it possible to characterize them were specified (precocity, monoembryony and polyembryony) and some information on the origin of the Floridian cultivars was provided. Principal cultivars cultivated in West Africa. Four mango cultivar categories were distinguished: cultivars of local or polyembryonic mangos (mangots and Number One), first monoembryonic cultivars propagated by grafting (Amélie, Julie, Sabot, Djibelor and Cuisse Madame), and the Floridian cultivars, also monoembryonic and propagated by grafting, introduced later and used either for export (Kent, Keitt, Palmer, Zill, Valencia, Smith, Irwin and Haden), or for the regional markets (Brooks, Davis-Haden, Miami Late, Springfels, Beverly, Eldon and Ruby). Each cultivar was described, like its farming characteristics and its outlets. The composition of the grafted mango tree orchards. This composition is influenced by the historical evolution and the purpose of the fruits that can be eaten, sold on the local, national or subregional market, exported toward the international market or processed in artisanal or industrial units. This orchard composition was specified for Guinea, Mali, Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire, Senegal and Togo.