European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

MINERAL CONTENTS OF FIVE MANGO (MANGIFERA INDICA L.) VARIETIES GROWN IN SENEGAL: EFFECTS OF VARIETY AND FRUIT POSITION IN THE TREE CANOPY

Ibrahima B. A.*, Mouhamadou Fofana, Ndiak Ndiaye, Bédié Mbow, Alioune Fall, Nicolas Cyrille Ayessou, Fatou Dieng Faye

ABSTRACT

Minerals contribute to the nutritional value of mango, but their contents vary from one variety to another. This study compares the calcium, magnesium, sodium and potassium contents of five mango varieties grown in Senegal (Sierra Leone, Boukodiékhal, Diourrou, Kent and Keitt), harvested at three positions in the tree canopy (bottom, intermediate and top). As normality was rejected for all four minerals (Shapiro-Wilk test, p < 0.05), the data were analysed with non-parametric tests (Kruskal-Wallis test and pairwise Wilcoxon tests with Holm adjustment). Variety had a significant effect on all four minerals (calcium: p = 0.028; magnesium: p = 0.0026; sodium: p = 0.0058; potassium: p = 0.0066), whereas harvest position had no significant overall effect (p = 0.53–0.80). The combined variety × position effect (15 groups) was significant for magnesium (p = 0.049) and potassium (p = 0.032). Keitt had the lowest contents of all four minerals and differed significantly from Boukodiékhal and Diourrou (adjusted p = 0.022). The highest medians were found in Boukodiékhal (magnesium, potassium) and Diourrou (calcium, sodium). These results show that varietal choice is a major determinant of the mineral supply provided by Senegalese mangoes.

Keywords: Mangifera indica, minerals, varieties, harvest position, Senegal.