A qualitative analysis of mango (Mangifera indica L.) latex and anatomy of latex canals

Mango latex is important in the mango industry due to its antimicrobial properties and the burn it causes on the harvested fruits. The present study is a qualitative investigation of the composition of mango latex, the variation in latex volumes among three selected local mango cultivars and the anatomy of fruit pedicel and peel that contain the latex canal system. According to the biochemical tests, the aqueous phase of mango latex contained moderate amounts of carbohydrates and reducing sugars which are disaccharides. Starch and keto-sugars were absent. Small amounts of phenols and proteins were present but not amino acids. Gallotannin antifungal compounds were absent in mango latex while resorcinols were present mostly in the non-aqueous phase of mango latex. The latex canal diameters were larger in a transvers section at and below the abscission zone of fruit pedicel closer to the fruit when compared to that further from the fruit. Cultivars such as ‘Karutha colomban’ and ‘Rata’ more resistant to anthracnose contained higher volumes of the non-aqueous phase of mango latex reported to contain antifungal resorcinols while anthracnose susceptible ‘Willard’ contains less of the non-aqueous phase and more of the aqueous phase of latex.