Evaluation of Traditional Mango (Mangifera indica>I L.) Varieties of Southern Kerala

Investigations were carried out at the Department of Pomology and Floriculture, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, to characterize traditional mango varieties of southern Kerala, based on utility of fruits. Wide publicity was made about the proposed study and an extensive survey was conducted. Fifty traditional mango types could be located from Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta and Alappuzha districts. On evaluation three utility groups were identified, viz., pickling, table and dual purpose types, based on the survey. Variability could be observed for floral, fruit and quality attributes. Flowering round the year was observed in Vellari Type-1, Thali, Kizhakkan Thali and Ambalathara Local. Karpoora Varikka with carotenoid content higher than most leading, superior varieties was identified. Varieties with high content of total sugars were Nedungolan, Vellari Type-2, Perakka manga, Inamanga, Neenda Karpooram, Velutha Muvandan, Karpoora Varikka and Ambalathara Local. Pickling type mangoes gave highest average ascorbic acid content (46.02mg/ 100g). Average titrable acidity (%) and crude fibre content were also the highest in pickling types (1.22% and 1.18%, respectively). In organoleptic evaluation, Perakka manga, Nedungolan, Karpooram manga, Vellari Type-2, Neenda Karpooram, Muthalamookan, Inamanga, Ambalathara Local, Kotookonam Varikka and Velutha Muvandan ranked on top in overall acceptability. These traditional varieties with desirable traits can be used for developing molecular markers to identify particular genes of interest and transfer them to desirable cultivars through genetic engineering.