Thursday, October 8, 2009

Indian National Fruit

















Mango is the National Fruit of India. The scientific name of mango is Mangifera Indica, which is one of the most important and widely cultivated fruits of the tropical world. The fruit is grown almost in all parts of India, except the hilly areas, but is mainly available in the summer season only. There are more than 100 varieties of mangoes in India, in a range of colors, sizes, and shapes.

The common names used in context of the fruit are, Mangot, Manga, and Mangou. The exact origin of the term 'mango' is not known. It is believed to have come from the Portuguese term, 'manga', which is probably from Malayalam 'manga'.















Mangoes are liked for their sweet juice and bright colors all around the world. The mango is eaten ripe and is also used for pickles. The fruit is rich in vitamin A, C, and D.

Importance In The Indian Culture
It is described as the "Food of the Gods", in the sacred Vedas. Even in our mythology and history there are stories of mangoes, the famous Indian poet Kalidasa sang its praise. Alexander the great, along with Hieun Tsang savored the taste of mangoes. The great Mughal king, Akbar is said to have planted over 100,000 mango trees in Darbhanga (modern Bihar).

Varieties
A large number of mango varieties can be found in India. The most popular ones include 'Alphonso' (also called 'Hapoos'), 'Amrapali', 'Bangalora', 'Banganapalli' (also known as 'Benishaan'), 'Bombay', 'Bombay Green', 'Chausa', 'Chinna Rasalu', 'Dashaheri' ('Daseri'), 'Fazli', 'Fernandian', 'Gulabkhas', 'Himayath' (a.k.a. 'Imam Pasand'), 'Himsagar', 'Jehangir', 'Kesar', 'Kishen Bhog', 'Lalbaug', 'Langda' ('Langra'), 'Mallika', 'Mankurad', 'Mulgoa', 'Neelam', 'Pairi', 'Pedda Rasalu', 'Rajapuri', 'Safeda', 'Suvarnarekha', 'Totapuri', 'Vanraj' and 'Zardalu'.

Description
Mangoes are available in different sizes, ranging from 10 to 25 cm in length and 7 to 12 cm in width. In terms of weight, a single mango can be as heavy as 2.5 kg. The fruit come in a wide variety of colors, such as green, yellow, red, and even various combinations of all these colors.

Mango has a flat, oblong seed in the center, which is covered by the sweet pulp. Covering the pulp is a thin layer of skin, which is peeled off before eating the fruit. When ripe, the unpeeled fruit gives off a distinct, resinous sweet smell.

Cultivation
Frost-free climate is best for the growth of Mangoes. If temperatures drop below 40° F, even for a short period, the flowers and small fruits already grown on the tree can get killed.
In other words, warm and dry weather is required for the cultivation of the fruit. This is it available in the summer season only. Mango can grow well in large containers and a greenhouse as well.

Mango trees are shady in nature. They grow very fast and can reach a height of as much as 65 ft. The life of mango trees is generally very long and some specimens are known to be over 300 years old and still fruiting.

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