Abstract

Fruit cultivation, particularly mango production, is flourishing in Burkina Faso. Despite the abundance of mango varieties, the methods for identifying them based on morphological traits remain unknown. This study aims to identify the distinctive characteristics of 18 mango tree varieties at INERA/Farako-Bâ, where experimentation is ongoing. To achieve this, 18 qualitative and four quantitative parameters were employed to characterize the varieties. The characterization followed a completely randomized Fisher block design. The study unveiled significant morphological variability, discerned through various qualitative and quantitative variables related to leaves and fruit. The resulting dendrogram from the analysis of variance grouped the varieties into three classes. The first class comprises varieties with elliptical leaf blades. The second class includes seven varieties with oval-shaped blades, while the third class consists of five varieties with oblong limbs. In terms of fruit characteristics at physiological maturity, the coloration of the epidermis and the shape of the fruit were crucial for describing each mango variety, facilitating their identification. The study's findings emphasize the high value of these mango varieties as an essential resource for varietal breeding programs.

Key words: Description, leaves, fruits, varieties, mango tree, Burkina Faso.