Mango Glossary

Epicotyl grafting uses the young stem above the seed leaves of a newly germinated seedling as the grafting stock. It is also called stone grafting in mango nursery practice. The tender stock and attached seed reserves make handling and timing important, and performance depends on local growing conditions and suitable scion material. It is a nursery propagation technique, not a reason to graft onto a damaged sprout or assume every seedling is immediately ready for the procedure.

FS means For Sale in plant-collector and marketplace posts. In a mango listing it may refer to a tree, scion wood, seeds, or fruit, so the abbreviation alone says nothing about what is included or whether the item is true to type. Check the cultivar name, propagation method, plant health, size, and shipping restrictions before purchasing. A seller's photograph of attractive fruit is not proof that an offered seedling will produce that same fruit.

FT means For Trade: an item is being offered in exchange for something else rather than simply listed for a cash sale. Mango growers may trade scions, grafted plants, or seeds, but the parties need to agree on cultivar identity, quantity, condition, and timing. Plant-health and movement restrictions still apply to a trade. Keep labels attached and document the source, because a mistaken scion label can propagate an identification error through many later trees.

Genotype is the genetic constitution of an organism. A mango seedling formed through fertilization has its own genetic combination, whereas a grafted scion normally preserves the genotype of its source tree. Genotype is distinct from phenotype, the characteristics actually observed under particular conditions. Poor flavor from immature fruit or weak growth in a saturated pot does not by itself demonstrate that a correctly labeled graft has changed genetically. Identity questions need provenance and, where appropriate, more specialized evidence.

Graft compatibility is the ability of a scion and rootstock to form and maintain a functioning, durable union. It is different from the initial appearance of callus or bud growth: a join can begin growing yet later develop weakness or poor transport between the parts. For mango propagation, use suitable, healthy material and established combinations where information is available. Compatibility does not mean that the rootstock guarantees dwarfing, disease resistance, or cold tolerance for every scion and location.