Pusa Ambika mango plants

The Pusa Ambika mango is a highly regarded hybrid variety developed by the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), known for its attractive appearance and good eating quality.

Here’s a detailed description:

Origin and Development:

• Parentage: Pusa Ambika is a cross between two popular Indian mango varieties: Amrapali and Janardhan Pasand. This hybridization aims to combine the desirable traits of both parents.
• Developer: Developed by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) at its research center in Lucknow, India. It was released in the year 2000.
• Purpose: The hybrid was created to offer a mango with attractive fruit color, regular bearing habit, and good potential for both domestic and export markets.

Tree Characteristics:

• Growth Habit: Pusa Ambika trees are generally described as semi-dwarf to medium-sized and have a spreading, dense canopy.
• Suitability for High-Density Planting: Being semi-dwarf, it is well-suited for high-density planting, allowing more trees per hectare and potentially higher yields in smaller spaces.
• Bearing Habit: It is known for its regular bearing habit, meaning it produces fruit consistently year after year, unlike some varieties that exhibit alternate bearing.
• Maturity: It is considered a late-maturing variety, typically ripening in the later part of the mango season.

Fruit Charactristics:

• Size and Shape: Fruits are medium to large-sized, typically weighing around 300-350 grams. They have an oblong-oval shape.
• Skin (Peel): One of its most striking features is its attractive bright yellow skin with a prominent dark red blush (or tinge) on the side exposed to the sun. This vibrant coloration makes it highly appealing visually.
• Flesh (Pulp):
  • Color: The pulp is a beautiful dark yellow to orange.
  • Texture: It is characterized by its firm texture with scanty (very little) fiber, making it quite pleasant to eat. Some sources even describe it as “fiberless.”
  • Juiciness: It is generally juicy and succulent.
  • Pulp Content: High pulp content, often reported around 70-71%.
• Taste and Aroma:
  • Sweetness: Pusa Ambika is known for its sweet and flavorful taste. It has a good balance of sugar and acidity.
  • TSS (Total Soluble Solids): Brix levels typically range from 18-22°Brix, indicating a good sugar content.
  • Aroma: It possesses a good, pleasant aroma.
• Seed: Contains a relatively small seed.

Season and Availability:

• As a late-maturing variety, Pusa Ambika fruits are generally ready for harvest in the late mango season, often in June and July in India. Its specific ripening time can vary slightly depending on the region and climatic conditions.

Culinary Uses:

• Its attractive appearance, firm yet juicy pulp, and good flavor make it excellent for fresh consumption.
• It is also suitable for various culinary applications, including juices, smoothies, desserts, and other mango-based preparations. Its low fiber content makes it good for processing.

Other Qualities:

• Shelf Life: It has a good shelf life, which contributes to its marketability for both domestic and export purposes.
• Disease Tolerance: Some sources suggest it has good disease tolerance.

In summary, the Pusa Ambika mango is a highly desirable variety due to its beautiful reddish-blushed skin, firm and juicy fiberless pulp, rich sweet taste, regular bearing habit, and suitability for high-density planting. Its late maturity extends the mango season for enthusiasts