Response of mango (Mangifera indica L.) to abiotic stresses: An overview

Mango tolerates a wide range of climate and well adapted to tropical and subtropical climates. Temperature and rainfall play important role in flower regulation of mango. The flowering period is most sensitive to low temperature as a certain period of low temperature induces floral bud formation. Low temperature exposure after pollination increased the percentage of stenospermocarpic fruit. Warmer temperatures generally increased the inflorescence size while the low temperatures caused morphological changes in styles, stigmas, ovaries and anther size in mango cultivars. Under high temperature and low-humidity conditions, mango's photosynthetic efficiency is reduced and respiration is high, resulting in low carbon accumulation, which lowers the tree's ability to hold heavy crop loads. Milder frost can kill young trees but larger mature trees can regenerate, although defoliation and death of some branches can occur. Rain or free moisture during the flowering and fruiting period is conducive to the development of fungal diseases that cause flower and fruit drop. In certain situations mango trees can tolerate drought for up to 8 months. Mango trees are tolerant to a range of soils from alkaline, calcareous soils to heavy clay soils. The optimal pH range is 5.5–7.5, but the tree can also grow outside this range, with low pH being the most deleterious to growth.