Mulgoba (mango)

Mango 'Mulgoba'
Display of 'Mulgoba' mango at the Redland Summer Fruit Festival, Fruit and Spice Park, Homestead, Florida
Genus	Mangifera
Cultivar	'Mulgoba'
Origin	India

Malgova or Malgoa is an important mango cultivar grown in Tamil Nadu and other parts of South India. It is a large round fruit (typically 300-500 g), it has a small stone and is very juicy and fragrant. It is generally considered to be one of the best mangoes, the "Alphonso of South India". Its production area is centred on the districts of Salem, Dharmapuri and Krishnagiri in Tamil Nadu, as well as neighbouring parts of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka.

A variety that was transplanted in Florida is called Mulgoba (very likely due to a mislabelling). A strain is also grown in Malaysia. The US variety is somewhat smaller, and may even be a different strain.

A DNA analysis of 50 varieties of mango obtained several DNA clusters but found the Malgova to be the most distinct.

The Malgova is a round mango which retains a green colour (with hints of red) when ripe. It is roundish-oblique, in shape, with a blunt apex and has a smaller lateral beak than other mangoes. For the size of fruit, the stone is small. The Florida variety is more yellowish with some crimson blush. The fiber-less flesh is yellow, soft, and has a flavor that is rich, spicy, and sweet. It contains a monoembryonic seed. It is a late-ripening mango, harvested typically around May (July/August in Florida). It has low acidity (0.11) with a pH of 4.65.

The trees are vigorous growers and will grow to large sizes with spreading, open canopies.

There is considerable speculation as to the origin of the American '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 'Alphonse', '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 horticulturists. 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 mislabelling of Malgova, a well known mango cultivar in India.