The country's industry competitiveness when it comes to exporting mango will no longer be limited to Philippine ‘Carabao’ mango, internationally known as ‘Manila Super,’ as promising mango varieties and selections have recently been introduced.
Mango selections and varieties in a virtual presser led by Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development under the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PCAARRD).
The virtual presser served as a platform to highlight the accomplishments of the recently completed 6.5-year program, “Enhancing the Competitiveness of Philippine ‘Carabao’ Mango through Varietal Improvement,” implemented by the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB).
According to DOST-PCAARRD Executive Director Reynaldo V. Ebora, it was the limited varietal options for export that led to the first mango breeding program in the Philippines that aims to increase pest and disease resistance, increase volume of exportable quality production, and prolong the shelf life of mango.
Program leader Carolyn E. Alcasid of the Institute of Plant Breeding (IPB), UPLB served as the resource speaker for the virtual event and shared the new mango varieties and selections identified through the program.
Alcasid clarified that the term “variety” is a mango selection already registered to the National Seed Industry Council, while a “selection” is an identified line with distinct and promising traits.
Two new NSIC-registered varieties, ‘Mangoming’ and ‘Farrales,’ were among the highlights of her presentation, with their potential as processing and table-type mango, respectively.
Alcasid also revealed mango selections ‘Carotene,’ ‘Kyla Luz,’ ‘Tommy Atkins,’ and four ‘Carabao’ strains: ‘IPB Carabao 1,’ FOC Accession Nos. 12-053, 12-209, and 12-127 which were all deemed promising for their qualities such as resistance to pests like fruit fly and anthracnose, thick peel, and red-blushed skin color.
Industry stakeholders expressed their interests on the availability of the mango varieties and selections during the open forum.
Alcasid said that the planting materials of the featured mango selections will be available by the end of the year, once they are approved by the Germplasm and Technology Release and Registration Office of IPB-UPLB.
“We need more plant breeders in our country to catch up with other countries, especially with the fast-changing markets and environment. Fruit breeding is fun, especially if you aim to produce a new variety that will really benefit the people,” said Alcasid as she addressed the aspiring mango breeders.