July 26, 2025 | Agriculture |
The study conducted by the ICAR–Central Institute for Subtropical Horticulture, India, investigated the effects of extreme heat waves on mango yield and fruit quality, with a focus on varietal responses relevant to climate resilience. Mango is known to be highly sensitive to heat stress, and the prolonged heat wave in 2024, with temperatures ranging from 41 to 47 °C over a 25-day period, provided an opportunity to assess cultivar-specific tolerance under field conditions.
The study evaluated ten widely grown commercial cultivars and thirteen elite hybrids cultivated in subtropical regions. Heat injury symptoms included fruit surface burning, blackened tips surrounded by yellow halos, premature ripening of affected tissues, and, in severe cases, tissue mummification. Among commercial cultivars, ‘Himsagar’ and ‘Bombay Green’ were the most severely affected, with around 80% fruit damage, followed by ‘Dashehari’, ‘Langra’, ‘Amrapali’, ‘Mallika’, and ‘Sharda Bhog’. In contrast, mid-maturing cultivars such as ‘Kesar’ and ‘Rataul’, as well as late-maturing elite hybrids that remained physiologically immature during the heat stress period, showed no visible damage, indicating higher tolerance.
Biochemical analyses revealed significantly increased total soluble solids (>25 °Brix) in heat-damaged tissues of sensitive genotypes compared with unaffected tissues and tolerant cultivars. Aroma profiling further showed changes in volatile compounds, including caryophyllene and humulene. Overall, the findings suggest that phenological maturity stage is a key indicator of heat tolerance and can guide the selection of climate-resilient mango cultivars and hybrids for future breeding programs.
