[h=1]Can You Graft a Mango Tree to a Different Type of Mango Tree?[/h] by Josie Myers, Demand Media
Mangoes can be picked while green and will ripen off the tree.
An old expression says, "two are better than one." That concept is the heart of grafting. Grafting is the process of injuring a tree to encourage a better or different growing pattern. It is common to cut limbs from various fruit trees and meld them together. This practice is used to give a weaker species of tree heartier roots, or to produce several varieties of fruit on one tree. The different types of mangoes, each with a distinctive flavor and attributes, respond well to varietal grafting.
[h=2]Mango Varieties[/h] The mango is the most widely grown fruit in the world. With more than 100 cultivars, you have a variety of tastes and textures to choose from. There are two categories of mango seeds: monoembryonic and polyembryonic. Monoembryonic seeds have a single embryo that was formed from cross-pollination and the seedlings vary from the parent trees. Polyembryonic seeds have multiple seedlings where only one is the product of cross-pollination and the others are clones of the mother tree. This is important because the polyembryonic varieties provide the strongest and most reliable rootstock for grafting and should serve as the base of a grafted mango.
[h=2]Polyembryonic Mangoes[/h] Polyembryonic seeds produce the best rootstocks for mangoes, but are the least prolific. Because they are identical to a strong parent tree, it is a safe bet the root systems will be equally strong. Mangoes of Indochinese descent are usually polyembryonic including varieties like "Philippine," "Pim Sen Mun," "Okrung" and "Nam Doc Mai." Among the American types are "Espada," "Rosa," "Manila" and "Ataulfo."
[h=2]Monoembryonic Mangoes[/h] Mangoes of Indian descent are generally monoembryonic. "Alphonso," "Kesar," "Rajapuri" and "Ratnagir" all have a single embryo. The majority of varieties grown in the U.S. are also monoembryonic, including "Tommy Atkins," "Irwin," "Haden," "Kent," "Parvin" and "Brooks." Because these types of mangoes have a greater variation in stock than those with cloned embryos, they are generally a riskier fruit to attempt to grow from seed to maturity. Instead, they're usually grafted onto polyembryonic rootstock early in life. It is possible to take several of these varieties and graft them onto a single rootstock, making a single tree that produces several varieties of mangoes.
[h=2]Choosing Mangoes[/h] Choosing which varieties of mango to graft is easier than with some other types of fruits. Mangoes have a relatively small range of differentiation in climate and environment. They are a tropical fruit and therefore, no variety has proven success in surviving in temperatures below 32 degrees Fahrenheit. The choice then is one of taste and preference. For those who prefer sweet fruit, the "Manila" or "Ataulfo" make a good base tree combined with a "Kesar," "Kent" or "Keitt." For a less sweet and sometimes spicy flavor, try "Rosa" as rootstock combined with the "Haden," "Edward" or "Francis."
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[h=4]About the Author[/h]
Josie Myers has been a freelance writer and tutor since 2008. A mother of three, she was a pre-kindergarten teacher for seven years, is a Pennsylvania-certified tree tender and served as director of parks in her local municipality. Myers holds a Bachelor of Arts in music and business from Mansfield University and a Master of Arts in English from West Chester University.