In Bangladesh, the ripest month for mangoes is known as the “honey month.” Mangoes hold significant cultural importance in Bengali traditions and cuisine. Unfortunately, some dishonest traders are disrupting this tradition by selling unripe mangoes that have been artificially ripened using harmful chemicals such as carbide, ethylene, and various hormones. Consumption of such mangoes can lead to serious health issues such as cancer, liver cirrhosis, anorexia, and infertility. Additionally, due to the increase in population, the number of fruit trees is decreasing as the land diminishes day by day. Professor MA Rahim, from the Horticulture Department of Bangladesh Agricultural University, is working tirelessly to sustain this traditional fruit of Bengalis. As part of that effort, under the fruit tree development project, various improved varieties of high-yielding dwarf mangoes are being cultivated in home gardens and commercially. Furthermore, two to three times a year fruiting, polyembryonic mango varieties with different characteristics, including a diabetic mango for diabetic patients, have been developed.
One popular variety is the FTIP Bau Mango-1 (Shravani). Shravani is a regular fruiting mango variety with medium-sized, slightly long fruits. When ripe, the skin is dark yellow and the flesh is orange-red, delicious, juicy, and sweet. The peel is slightly thick and thin. This variety is suitable for growing in all agro-ecological zones of Bangladesh. It flowers by the end of February and the fruits ripen by the end of July. Well-drained fertile loam soil is best for cultivation. It takes about five and a half months from flowering to fruit maturity. Organic and chemical fertilizers should be applied every year before and after the monsoon. Regular application of pesticides and fungicides is necessary to prevent insect and disease pests. The hexagonal planting method is recommended, with 5-7 meters planting distance and 300-350 seedlings per hectare. It takes about a year from planting to fruiting. However, mild anthracnose disease may occur occasionally.
FTIP Bau Mango-2 (Sindoori):
This is a regular fruiting and dwarf variety. The fruits are small and spherical in size. Mangoes are greenish to vermilion in color when raw, and turn yellow when ripe. They are juicy and sour-sweet, with no fiber in the flesh. The mango pulp is very thin, giving this variety the name “seedless mango.” It can be grown in all agro-ecological zones of Bangladesh. Fertile loam soil is best for growing this fruit, although it can be cultivated in all types of soil in the climate of Bangladesh. For planting, 300-350 seedlings per hectare can be planted at a distance of 5-7 meters. Fruits are available from the first year after planting, but the buds must be broken after budding in the first year to create a strong plant structure. These mangoes are rich in vitamin C.
FTIP Bau Mango-3 (Diabetic):
Ripe fruits of this variety are available at the end of June. It takes 5-7 months from flowering to maturity. Fruit size is medium and long. The average weight of the fruit is 55 grams. Ripe fruit color is yellowish. This variety has low juice content but high fiber content, making it suitable for diabetic patients. It is a regular fruiting and dwarf variety, with the tree flowering and fruiting mainly twice a year. Flowering occurs for the first time in mid-January to the first week of February and for the second time in May-June. The main production is obtained from the flowers produced in January-February. Well-drained fertile loam soil is best for mango cultivation. It cannot tolerate prolonged waterlogging, but irrigation should be provided during the dry season. 300-350 seedlings per hectare can be planted 5-7 meters apart, and it takes about a year from planting to fruiting.
FTIP Bau Mango-4:
The FTIP Bau Mango-4 is a popular variety with regular fruiting. Its fruits start ripening around June, taking about five and a half months from flowering to fruit maturity. The ripe fruit has light green skin, orange aromatic flesh, and is juicy and sweet with no fiber. The thin peel covers a small pulp, about 9.76% of the fruit. This mango type can be planted throughout the year. Due to firm drops, it is less likely to fall off in strong winds. For planting, 200-220 seedlings per hectare can be planted 7-8 meters apart.
FTIP Bau Mango-6 (Polyembryony):
This is a dwarf and umbilical variety that produces an average of 100-300 fruits from a five-year-old tree. From one seed, you can get 5-8 seedlings, with one being zygotic and the rest being nucellus. Fruits are available every year, and you can even cultivate this variety on house roofs in half a drum. Flowering occurs in December-January, and the fruit ripens in July-August. It’s best to grow this variety in loamy soil that is rich in organic matter. A five-year-old tree yields 30-40 kg and grows by 20-30 kg per year. Mature trees yield 25-30 tons/ha. This mango tree is suitable for commercial production of mangoes and for nursery production as it is polyembryonic.
FTIP Bau Mango-9 (Saukhin Chowfla):
This variety is a regular fruiter and grows on a dwarf tree. It produces fruit 3-4 times a year and is suitable for delicate fruit growers. It can be grown on the terrace or in tubs, and can also be planted commercially. If seedlings are kept in polybags, trees can be planted throughout the year. Well-drained fertile loam soil is best for this variety, and it takes about five months from flowering to fruit maturity. Around 700-800 seedlings can be planted per hectare, and it takes six months from planting to fruiting.
FTIP Bau Mango-10 (Soukhin-2):
This is a medium dwarf variety that can be planted throughout the year. Flowering occurs in January-February and fruit ripens in May-June. Additionally, the fruit comes in July-August and ripens in November-December. It takes a year from planting to fruiting, and no diseases have been observed. In the first year, 10-15 fruits can be expected, and in the second year, 30-50 fruits. It’s recommended not to plant this type of tree commercially, but it is suitable for planting in the yard and on the roof of the house. Bau mango seedlings are available in various nurseries across the country, including the Germ Plasm Center of Bangladesh Agricultural University.
