Review** The mango in French-speaking West Africa: varieties and varietal composition of the orchards Jean-Yves REYa*, Thierno Mamadou DIALLOb, Henri VANNIÈREa, Christian DIDIERa, Sidiki KÉITAc, Morodjan SANGARÉc a Cirad, UPR Productions The mango in French-speaking West Africa: varieties and varietal fruitières, TA 50/PS4, composition of the orchards. Bd de la Lironde, 34398 Abstract –– Introduction. The mango tree is one of the most widespread fruit trees in West Montpellier Cedex 5, Africa. A history of its introduction into that area was recently published. To follow upon this France document, the presented analysis was devoted to the principal varieties that are cultivated there
[email protected] today and to the impact of the historical and commercial factors on the varietal composition of b IER, URG, BP 30, Bamako, the orchards. Some definitions. In precondition to an inventory of the varieties, certain terms Mali making it possible to characterise them were specified (precocity, monoembryony and poly- embryony) and some information on the origin of the Floridian varieties was provided. Principal c Irag, CRA Bordo, BP 352 varieties cultivated in West Africa. Four mango variety categories were distinguished: varieties Kankan, Guinée of local or polyembryonic mangos (mangots and Number One), first monoembryonic varieties propagated by grafting (Amélie, Julie, Sabot, Djibelor and Cuisse Madame), and the Floridian varieties, also monoembryonic and propagated by grafting, introduced later and used either for export (Kent, Keitt, Palmer, Zill, Valencia, Smith, Irwin and Haden), or for the regional markets (Brooks, Davis-Haden, Miami Late, Springfels, Beverly, Eldon and Ruby). Each variety was described, like its farming characteristics and its outlets.