Mango Germplasm Resources: Characterization, Climate Resilience, and Conservation Approaches

Mangifera indica L., commonly known as mango, is an important tree fruit crop which is extensively cultivated in subtropics and tropics across the globe. Most of the commercial cultivars available in Southeast Asia, including Pakistan, are monoembryonic and have emerged as chance seedlings that were selected and multiplied by amateur gardeners. Germplasm collections are vital genetic resources that provide raw material for selections and initiating crop improvement programs. Mango cultivation is facing various challenges due to climate change, such as abrupt changes in temperature and rainfall patterns, and the occurrence of extreme weather events like floods and droughts. To ensure climate change resilience in mango cultivation, various strategies can be adopted. These include the use of drought-tolerant varieties, improved irrigation practices, conservation of water resources, and the adoption of agroforestry practices. Overall, building the resilience of mango cultivation to climate change requires a multi-faceted approach that considers various factors such as genetic diversity, water management, soil conservation, pest, and disease management, and the adoption of innovative technologies. Mango germplasm collections include a wide range of varieties that differ in fruit size, shape, quality, taste, and yield attributes. Conservation of germplasm resources is essential to maintain mango varieties’ genetic diversity and ensure their availability for future generations. Various global organizations are engaged in collecting, preserving, and characterizing mango germplasm resources. These collections are maintained both in situ (in their natural habitats) and ex situ (in gene banks and field collections). Conservation efforts also include the identification of important traits in mango germplasm, such as disease resistance, drought tolerance, and fruit quality, which can be used in breeding programs to develop new mango varieties with novel traits. The availability of molecular tools such as DNA markers and genomic sequencing has further facilitated the characterization and classification of mango germplasm resources. The identification of genetically diverse mango varieties can be used to develop new cultivars with enhanced traits and improved adaptation to diverse environmental conditions. Tropical fruit tree genetic resources (TFTGR) are being recorded in print and electronic media to provide readily accessible information to users. Identifying diverse germplasm for higher yield and developing broad-based cultivars suited to changing climates can help meet the increasing global demand for food and nutritional security. In summary, mango germplasm resources are an essential asset for the continued improvement and sustainable cultivation of mango, and their conservation is critical for future generations.