Intervarietal differences in the surface morphology and anatomy of mango (Mangifera indica L.) fruit.
Paul V., Malik S. K., Srivastava G. C.
Author Affiliation: Division of Plant Physiology, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi - 110 012, India.
Phytomorphology 57 : 211-220
Abstract : Diffusibility of gases across the fruit's boundary and the extent of moisture being lost from the fruit are mainly determined by the surface characteristics of fruit. The present study has been carried out to examine the intervarietal differences in the surface morphology of mango (M. indica) fruit. Basic anatomical features, morphology of fruit surface and density of lenticels present on the surface of the mango fruit were studied in four economically important cultivars in India - Langra, Amrapali, Dushehari and Ramkela. Anatomical differences among these cultivars were noticed in terms of thickness of cuticle, shape, size and arrangement of epidermal cells, thickness and compactness of hypodermal region and density of lenticels. The study further indicated that mango fruit surface for the cultivars like Langra and Ramkela having more resistance towards the diffusion of gases and moisture (mainly due to the low density of lenticels) was associated with lenticels having bigger lenticels' opening (lenticel hypertrophy). In contrast, cultivars like Amrapali and Dushehari that showed higher density for lenticels on the surface of the fruits and thereby lesser degree of diffusion resistance had lower tendency for the hypertrophied lenticels.