Classical Genetics and Breeding

Mango (Mangifera indica L.) is believed to be originated as an allopolyploid most probably amphidiploid with chromosome number, 2n = 40 with the size of 0.2–2.0 μm. As revealed by cytological studies, these chromosomes undergo regular pairing and disjunction in 20 bivalents during meiosis. The mango (Mangifera indica L.) has been originated from north-eastern India covering the Indo Myanmar border region and Bangladesh, where still wild mango trees with very small fruits are found. Mangifera genus has more than 60 species with Myanmar-Siam-Indochina or Malay Archipelago being its primary center of diversity comprising of highest diversity where as the Sunda Islands (Java, Sumatra, Bornco)–the Philippines and Celebes–Banda-Timor are considered as the secondary center of diversity. There are certain species such as M. odorata, M. zeylanica, M. caloneura, M. sylvatica, M. foetida, and M. caesia that are cross compatible with each other owing to the identical number of chromosomes. On accord of its cross pollinated and heterozygous nature, M. indica L. and other related species possess very huge variability that is useful for mango improvement programme. More than 1000 mango centres of India. Depending on the number of embryos that a mango fruit produces, mango varieties are classified as monoembryonic and polyembryonic. Systematic hybridization work has resulted more than 50 hybrids across the globe and several of them are being cultivated commercially. Genetical studies conducted have shown Amrapali to be a good combiner as female parent whereas Vanraj, Janardhan Pasand, Sensation, and Tommy Atkins have been found to be good combiners for shelf life, peel color, and sugar: acid blend. Studies on inheritance of traits have been conducted and pre-selection indices for early screening of hybrids have been established. Attempts have been made to introgress genes for biotic and abiotic stress resistance/tolerance from the wild species. Molecular markers such as RAPD, AFLP, SSR, and SNP are being employed for diversity analysis and hybridity confirmation in mango breeding.