Malformation of inflorescence and vegetative buds is attributed to the combined action of Fusarium moniliforme and any of the mites, Aceria mangifera, Eriophyes sp., Tyrophagus castellanii, or Typhlodromus asiaticus. In some parts, of Africa, it is called mangou, or mangoro. There is one cultivar, 'Neelum', in South India that bears heavily every year, apparently because of its high rate (16%) of hermaphrodite flowers. Strong winds during the fruiting season cause many fruits to fall prematurely. Quality is improved by controlled temperatures between 60° and 70° F (15° -21° C). It has been determined that mangos have been picked prematurely if they require more than 48 hours of ethylene treatment and are not fit for market. Decay rates were 20% for 'Tommy Atkins' and 40% for 'Irwin'. The fungus affects the flowers and causes young fruits to dehydrate and fall, and 20% of the crop may be lost. Pests and Diseases The fruit flies, Dacus ferrugineus and D. zonatus, attack the mango in India; D. tryoni (now Strumeta tryoni) in Queensland, and D. dorsalis in the Philippines; Pardalaspis cosyra in Kenya; and the fruit fly is the greatest enemy of the mango in Central America. Mangifera Indica. Experts in the Philippines have demonstrated that 'Carabao' mangos sprayed with ethephon (200 ppm) 54 days after full bloom can be harvested 2 weeks later at recommended minimum maturity. 11' from Cuba was planted in Bradenton. The fat extracted from the kernel is white, solid like cocoa butter and tallow, edible, and has been proposed as a substitute for cocoa butter in chocolate. Grafted mangos may set fruit within a year or two from planting. The universality of its renown is attested by the wide usage of the name, mango in English and Spanish and, with only slight variations in French (mangot, mangue, manguier), Portuguese (manga, mangueira), and Dutch (manja). Closer planting will ultimately reduce the crop. In Mexico, it is known as Manila, in Philippines - as Carabo. The leading predators of the tree in India are jassid hoppers (Idiocerus spp.) If a strong pull is necessary, the fruit is still somewhat immature and should not be harvested. Scions from the spring flush of selected cultivars are defoliated and, after a 10-day delay, are cleft-grafted on 5-day-old seedlings which must thereafter be kept in the shade and protected from drastic changes in the weather. Almost any treatment or condition that retards vegetative growth will have this effect. ***Images of fruit or edible qualities are provided from our nursery's stock of producing plants to show the potential yield of of our fruiting & edible plants. In humid climates, anthracnose caused by Colletotrichum gloeosporioides (Glomerella cingulata) affects flowers, leaves, twigs, fruits, both young and mature. Ever wondered why certain fruits are on the Thanksgiving table? Thereafter, most mangos tend toward alternate, or biennial, bearing. The honeydew they excrete on leaves and flowers gives rise to sooty mold. However, in order to reproduce and share the superior monoembryonic selections, vegetative propagation is necessary. Clonal propagation through tissue culture is in the experimental stage. Green mangos are peeled, sliced, parboiled, then combined with sugar, salt, various spices and cooked, sometimes with raisins or other fruits, to make chutney; or they may be salted, sun-dried and kept for use in chutney and pickles. In the drier islands of the Lesser Antilles, there are mango trees that flower and fruit more or less continuously all year around but never heavily at any time. Leaf tip burn may be a sign of excess chlorides. in Southeast Asia. Some seedling mangos are so fibrous that they cannot be sliced; instead, they are massaged, the stem-end is cut off, and the juice squeezed from the fruit into the mouth.