Mango Breeding

Abstract

This chapter provides a comprehensive exploration of all stages of a mango breeding programme. It reviews the diversity of germplasm available to the breeder and addresses the biological challenges and timeframes associated with both annual and multi-year breeding cycles. Each phase of a typical mango breeding programme, from conception to commercial release of a new cultivar, is examined, highlighting the advantages and limitation of various methodologies. This chapter also emphasizes the importance of understanding and selecting breeding goals and their associated targeted traits. With recent advances in genetic and genomic technologies, mango breeding is experiencing a renaissance in the genetic understanding of the crop, leading to the development of innovative molecular breeding tools and analyses. The application of these molecular tools promises to streamline the lengthy breeding cycle and significantly enhance genetic gains through breeding, offering breeders new opportunities to refine hybridization and evaluation, thereby gaining greater control and flexibility in breeding.