Saharanpur (Uttar Pradesh) (India), June 30 (ANI): A single mango tree growing 121 varieties of fruit!
The 15-year-old mango tree has become a real attraction in the Saharanpur district of the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, which is famous for its mangoes.
The unique tree grows in the Company Bagh area of the district and is the product of an experiment initiated by gardeners five years ago to develop new varieties of mangoes and experiment with their taste.
According to Bhanu Prakash Ram, Deputy Director, Horticulture and Training Centre, Saharanpur, this unique experiment was conducted in Company Bagh about five years ago.
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“The aim of the experiment was to research new varieties of mango. Saharanpur is already a leading name in mango production. Mango is grown intensively in the fruit belt of the district. For this reason, research on new varieties of mango was also carried out here,” said Ram.
According to Ram, the then deputy director of the Horticulture Experiment and Training Centre, Rajesh Prasad grafted 121 different mango branches on a single mango tree.
“We are working on new varieties so that better varieties of mango can be produced. People can also use this technology,” he added.
Ram explained that the tree selected for study was about 10 years old.
“Branches of different varieties of mango were planted on the branches of the native mango tree. After that, a separate nursery was appointed to take care of the tree. Now, different varieties of mango can be found on all the branches of this tree,” said Ram.
The mango varieties found on this tree include Dussehri, Langra, Chaunsa, Ramkela, Amrapali, Saharanpur Arun, Saharanpur Varun, Saharanpur Saurabh, Saharanpur Gaurav and Saharanpur Rajiv.
Other mango varieties also grow on the tree, including Lucknow Safeda, Tommy at King’s, Pusa Surya, Sensation, Rataul, Kalmi Maldah Mango, Bombay, Smith, Mangifera Jalonia, Gola Bulandshahr, Laranku, LR Special, Alampur Benisha and Asojia Deoband.
Meanwhile, Haji Kalimullah Khan of Malihabad in Uttar Pradesh, known as the ‘Mango Man of India’, has grown over 300 varieties of mangoes on a single tree. He was awarded the Padma Shri in 2008. (ANI)
