Mango: History and Morphology

History

Mango is a delicious and nutritious fruit. Humans have enjoyed mangoes for thousands of years. According to some histories, mangoes originate from the Hindo-Burma region in Southeast Asia, which stretches from eastern India and southern China to Southeast Asia. The earliest references to mangoes can be found in ancient Hindu and Buddhist writings back to 4000 B.C.

Mango Cultivation of mangoes dates back to early civilizations in India and Southeast Asia, and spread to other parts of the world through trade and exploration. The Portuguese brought mangoes to Europe and Africa in the 15th and 16th centuries, and the Spanish brought them to the Americas in the 16th and 17th centuries.

Currently, we can find mangoes in tropical and subtropical areas throughout the world. India is the world’s largest producer of mangoes, followed by China, Thailand, Mexico, and Brazil. There are more than 1,000 varieties of mango throughout the world, and each variety has its own taste and uniqueness.

Mangoes have a rich cultural and religious significance in many parts of the world. In India, the mango is considered to be a sacred fruit and is often used in religious ceremonies. In Buddhism, the mango tree is revered as the tree under which Buddha attained enlightenment.

They are a good source of vitamins A and C, as well as dietary fiber. Mangoes are also low in calories and fat.

Here is a brief timeline of the history of the mango fruit:

• 4000 B.C.: The earliest references to mangoes, we can find in ancient Hindu and Buddhist writings.
• 300 A.D.: Introduced mangoes to the Middle East, East Africa, and South America through trade.
• 15th and 16th centuries: The Portuguese bring mangoes to Europe and Africa.
• 16th and 17th centuries: The Spanish bring mangoes to the Americas.
• 18th and 19th centuries: Introducing mangoes to many new parts of the world, including Australia, Hawaii, and Florida.
• 20th and 21st centuries: Mangoes have become increasingly popular all over the world, and new varieties of mangoes have developed.

Today, the mango is one of the most popular fruits in the world. People of all ages and cultures love this fruit.

Morphology

The mango fruit is a drupe, which is a fleshy fruit with a single, hard seed. Mango fruits are typically oval or oblong in shape, with a smooth, leathery skin when ripe. The skin can be green, yellow, orange, or red, depending on the variety of mango.

Mango fruit is composed of three main parts, namely: epicarp (skin), mesocarp (flesh), and endocarp (seeds).

• Epicarp (skin): The epicarp is the thin, leathery outer layer of the mango fruit. It is typically green when the fruit is unripe and turns yellow, orange, or red as the fruit ripens. The epicarp is not edible, but it protects the edible flesh inside.
• Mesocarp (flesh): The mesocarp is the thick, fleshy part of the mango fruit. It is typically yellow or orange in color and has a sweet, juicy flavor. The mesocarp is the edible part of the mango fruit.
• Endocarp (seed): The endocarp is the hard, stony seed in the center of the mango fruit. It is not edible.

Mango seeds can be either monoembryonic or polyembryonic. Monoembryonic seeds have a single embryo, while polyembryonic seeds have multiple embryos. Polyembryonic seeds are more common in mango varieties from Southeast Asia.

The size and shape of mango fruits can vary depending on the variety. Some mango varieties can be as small as a chicken egg, while others can be as large as a grapefruit. Mango fruits can also be round, oval, oblong, or kidney-shaped.

Here are some of the key morphological features of mango fruits:

• Shape: Oval or oblong
• Size: Varies depending on the variety, from the size of a chicken egg to the size of a grapefruit
• Skin: Smooth, leathery skin that is typically green when unripe and turns yellow, orange, or red as the fruit ripens
• Flesh: Thick, fleshy part of the fruit that is typically yellow or orange in color and has a sweet, juicy flavor
• Seed: Hard, stony seed in the center of the fruit that is not edible

That is the history of the mango fruit. Hopefully this article is useful.