Abstract
The Florida mango (Mangifera indica L.) cultivars were historically described as hybrids between Indian types (monoembryonic) and Southeast Asian types (predominantly polyembryonic). Early molecular data including isozyme and Randomly Amplified Polymorphic DNA analysis supported the hybrid origin. The Florida varieties are distinctive and combine characteristics of both Indian and Southeast Asian types. Although adapted to Florida conditions, they perform well across many different environments, and several, including 'Tommy Atkins', 'Keitt', 'Haden', 'Irwin', and 'Parvin' are produced commercially in tropical and sub-tropical countries. Using 25 microsatellite markers we analyzed 63 Florida varieties as well as cultivars from India, Asia and other locations, to construct likely pedigrees for each Florida cultivar. Parentage analysis was performed across four generations based on introduction dates of accessions into Florida and selection dates for Florida varieties. The cultivars were sampled from the accessions maintained at the National Germplasm Repository and by Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden (FTBG). Results suggest that as few as four Indian cultivars, and the 'Turpentine' land race were involved in the early cultivar selections. Sixty-three of the 85 parents identified across the four generations were other Florida cultivars. Pedigree results are in agreement with the findings of a larger diversity analysis study that the Florida types are more closely related to Indian than to Southeast Asian types and that the Florida group is not more diverse than either of the originating parental groups. The Florida group is unique and a subset of the Florida types have proven to have an unusual level of production stability and environmental adaptability.
