Mango (Kottukonam, Budded) Fruit Plant

Mangoes are juicy stone fruits produced by several species of tropical trees belonging to the flowering plant genus Mangifera. They are primarily cultivated for their edible fruit and belong to the cashew family, Anacardiaceae. While many species exist as wild mangoes in nature, the most widely cultivated is Mangifera indica, commonly known as the common or Indian mango. Native to South Asia, mangoes have since been distributed worldwide and are now among the most widely grown tropical fruits in the tropics.

The ripe fruit varies widely in size, shape, and color depending on the cultivar, with varieties appearing in shades of yellow, orange, red, or green. Each fruit contains a single flat, oblong pit that may be fibrous or hairy on the surface and does not separate easily from the pulp. When ripe and unpeeled, mangoes release a distinctive sweet, resinous aroma. Inside the pit is a thin protective layer about 1–2 mm thick, enclosing a single seed measuring 4–7 cm in length. This seed contains the plant embryo. Mango seeds are recalcitrant, meaning they cannot survive drying or freezing conditions.