Mulgoba (mango)
Encyclopedia
The Mulgoba mango is a named mango cultivar that originated in India
and was brought to the United States
.
, Banchore, Banchore of Dhiren, Devarubria, Mulgoba, and Pirie. Upon receipt of the trees, they were then shipped to south Florida to be cared for by horticulturalists. 5 of the trees were sent to Professor Elbridge Gale along Lake Worth Lagoon
near what is now West Palm Beach, Florida
. Gale was a retired horticulture professor from Kansas State Agricultural College. One of these trees were labeled "Mulgoba" by Woodrow, which most likely was a mislabeling of 'Mulgoa', a well known mango cultivar in India.
10 of the 12 trees were killed by 1895, most presumably in a major freeze that affected Florida in the winter of 1894-1895. In 1898 Gale reported that only an Alphonse tree under the care of the Brelsford Brothers and the Mulgoba under his care were the two surviving trees. The Alphonse was said to be doing poorly, but the same year the Mulgoba produced its first fruit. However, the fruit resembled nothing like the "Mulgoa" variety in India, nor any other established Indian varieties for that matter. Thus, several possibilities exist that could help explain the origin of the Mulgoba. One is that the variety shipped to the United States was not 'Mulgoa' but rather another unknown variety. This explanation is challenging however as the 'Mulgoba' does not fit the description of any of the known mango varieties grown around Bombay, from where the scions for the original grafts were obtained. Yet another possibility is that the scion for the grafted tree that fruited in 1898 was killed in the 1894-1895 freeze, and that the rootstock was what grew and produced the fruit. This would help explain why the tree did not produce fruit until 1898, as most grafted trees will produce within 5 years. This would mean that Mulgoba originated as a chance seedling of a superior variety, though such varieties were rarely used as rootstocks for grafted trees in India, complicating this explanation.
After the original tree began producing fruit, the 'Mulgoba' was quickly recognized for its outstanding eating quality and eye-catching color. Because of this, 'Mulgoba' was propagated and other trees were planted in Florida.
Mulgoba was a parent of the Haden
mango, which was planted from a Mulgoba seed and was the result of a cross between the Mulgoba and Turpentine 10 mango. Haden would go on to become the parent of many of the Florida mangoes, and thus most Florida mangoes are descended from Mulgoba. Mulgoba was also reportedly a parent of the Lancetilla
mango, as well as the Keitt
mango, though a 2005 pedigree analysis indicated that Keitt wasn't descended from Mulgoba.
Mulgoba itself, while highly regarded for its flavor, proved to be a very poor and inconsistent producer in Florida, thus limiting its plantings after the development of Haden and other culivars with superior production characteristics. Mulgoba never became an established commercial cultivar and has not been sold as nursery stock for decades. However, Mulgoba trees are still part of the collections of the USDA's germplasm repository in Miami, Florida
, the University of Florida's Tropical Research and Education Center in Homestead, Florida
, and the Miami-Dade Fruit and Spice Park
, also in Homestead.
The trees are vigorous growers and will grow to large sizes with spreading, open canopies.
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
and was brought to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
History
There is considerable speculation as to the origin of the Mulgoba variety. What is known is that Mulgoba was sent from India to the US in 1889 as part of a program to introduce tropical fruit to America. Twelve grafted mango trees were shipped by G. Marshall Woodrow, who was then Professor of Horticulture at the Agricultural College in Poona, India. The trees were brought from Bombay to Washington D.C., where they arrived in poor condition. The varieties included AlphonseAlphonso (mango)
Alphonso is a mango cultivar that is considered by many to be one of the best in terms of sweetness, richness and flavor. It has considerable shelf life of a week after it is ripe making it exportable. It is also one of the most expensive kinds of mango and is grown mainly in Kokan region of...
, Banchore, Banchore of Dhiren, Devarubria, Mulgoba, and Pirie. Upon receipt of the trees, they were then shipped to south Florida to be cared for by horticulturalists. 5 of the trees were sent to Professor Elbridge Gale along Lake Worth Lagoon
Lake Worth Lagoon
The Lake Worth Lagoon is a lagoon located in Palm Beach County, Florida. It runs parallel to the coast, and is separated from the Atlantic Ocean by barrier beaches, including Palm Beach Island. The lagoon is connected to the Atlantic Ocean by two permanent, man-made inlets.-Geography:Lake Worth...
near what is now West Palm Beach, Florida
West Palm Beach, Florida
West Palm Beach, is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and is the most populous city in and county seat of Palm Beach County, the third most populous county in Florida with a 2010 population of 1,320,134. The city is also the oldest incorporated municipality in South Florida...
. Gale was a retired horticulture professor from Kansas State Agricultural College. One of these trees were labeled "Mulgoba" by Woodrow, which most likely was a mislabeling of 'Mulgoa', a well known mango cultivar in India.
10 of the 12 trees were killed by 1895, most presumably in a major freeze that affected Florida in the winter of 1894-1895. In 1898 Gale reported that only an Alphonse tree under the care of the Brelsford Brothers and the Mulgoba under his care were the two surviving trees. The Alphonse was said to be doing poorly, but the same year the Mulgoba produced its first fruit. However, the fruit resembled nothing like the "Mulgoa" variety in India, nor any other established Indian varieties for that matter. Thus, several possibilities exist that could help explain the origin of the Mulgoba. One is that the variety shipped to the United States was not 'Mulgoa' but rather another unknown variety. This explanation is challenging however as the 'Mulgoba' does not fit the description of any of the known mango varieties grown around Bombay, from where the scions for the original grafts were obtained. Yet another possibility is that the scion for the grafted tree that fruited in 1898 was killed in the 1894-1895 freeze, and that the rootstock was what grew and produced the fruit. This would help explain why the tree did not produce fruit until 1898, as most grafted trees will produce within 5 years. This would mean that Mulgoba originated as a chance seedling of a superior variety, though such varieties were rarely used as rootstocks for grafted trees in India, complicating this explanation.
After the original tree began producing fruit, the 'Mulgoba' was quickly recognized for its outstanding eating quality and eye-catching color. Because of this, 'Mulgoba' was propagated and other trees were planted in Florida.
Mulgoba was a parent of the Haden
Haden (mango)
The Haden' mango is a named mango cultivar that became one of the most widely cultivated in the world after it was introduced in the early 20th century through south Florida. It would ultimately become the parent of many other mango cultivars later developed in Florida.- History :In 1902, Captain...
mango, which was planted from a Mulgoba seed and was the result of a cross between the Mulgoba and Turpentine 10 mango. Haden would go on to become the parent of many of the Florida mangoes, and thus most Florida mangoes are descended from Mulgoba. Mulgoba was also reportedly a parent of the Lancetilla
Lancetilla (mango)
The Lancetilla' mango is a named mango cultivar that originated in Honduras.- History :The original tree is believed to have been the result of a cross between the 'Saigon' and 'Mulgoba' varieties by Wilson Popenoe, grown on his property in Lancetilla, Honduras on the north coast of...
mango, as well as the Keitt
Keitt (mango)
The Keitt' mango is a late-season mango cultivar which originated in south Florida.- History :'Keitt' was reportedly a seedling of the Mulgoba cultivar that was planted on the property of Mrs. J.N. Keitt in Homestead, Floridain 1939...
mango, though a 2005 pedigree analysis indicated that Keitt wasn't descended from Mulgoba.
Mulgoba itself, while highly regarded for its flavor, proved to be a very poor and inconsistent producer in Florida, thus limiting its plantings after the development of Haden and other culivars with superior production characteristics. Mulgoba never became an established commercial cultivar and has not been sold as nursery stock for decades. However, Mulgoba trees are still part of the collections of the USDA's germplasm repository in Miami, Florida
Miami, Florida
Miami is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade County, the most populous county in Florida and the eighth-most populous county in the United States with a population of 2,500,625...
, the University of Florida's Tropical Research and Education Center in Homestead, Florida
Homestead, Florida
Homestead is a city in Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States nestled between Biscayne National Park to the east and Everglades National Park to the west. Homestead is primarily a Miami suburb and a major agricultural area....
, and the Miami-Dade Fruit and Spice Park
Fruit and Spice Park
The Fruit and Spice Park is a botanical garden in metropolitan Miami at 24801 SW 187 Avenue, located in the rural agricultural community of the Redland, Florida, United States.-Exhibits:...
, also in Homestead.
Description
The fruit is oval to ovate in shape, with a rounded or bluntly pointed apex and containing a small lateral beak. At maturity the skin color is yellow with some crimson blush. The flesh is yellow, soft, and has a flavor that is rich and sweet. It contains a monoembryonic seed. The fruit typically ripen from July to August in Florida.The trees are vigorous growers and will grow to large sizes with spreading, open canopies.