A review of mango (Mangifera indica L.): Diversity, rootstock role, climate resilience, and conservation

Mango (Mangifera indica L.) is a globally important perennial crop, valued for its nutritional, medicinal, economic, and ecological significance.  Comprehensive analysis on mango variety characterization, rootstock selection, climate resilience, and germplasm conservation remains underexplored. Therefore, this review systematically analyzed 90 studies published between 2000 and 2025, following the PRISMA protocol, using databases including Scopus, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, Google Scholar, and relevant grey literature. Inclusion criteria focused on studies addressing mango varieties, morphological and physicochemical traits, rootstocks, climate resilience, and conservation mechanisms. The review highlights substantial global diversity in mango traits, with certain cultivars like Tommy Atkins, Kent, and Keitt exhibiting superior fruit quality, export potential, and climate adaptability. Rootstock selection strongly influences growth, yield, and stress tolerance, and several genotypes demonstrate resilience to drought, salinity, and other environmental stresses. Climate changes, especially fluctuations in precipitation and temperature, threaten mango phenology and production, but resilient cultivars offer opportunities for adaptation. Conservation of local and underutilized germplasm can be enhanced through socio-economic incentives such as payments for ecosystem and agrobiodiversity services. These findings emphasize the importance of integrating morphological, physicochemical, and genetic data to guide breeding and climate adaptation strategies. Targeted conservation and cultivar selection based on stress resilience and market potential can support sustainable mango production under changing environmental conditions.