Mangoes ( Fig. 22.1 ) are among the most widely cultivated and consumed fruits in
tropical and subtropical regions. Mango consumption in temperate-zone countries
in particular has been increasing dramatically in recent years. Successful
postharvest handling of mangoes requires knowledge of the postharvest
physiology of the fruit and understanding of how this determines handling
practices to maintain and develop high quality fruit (Yahia, 2005; Brecht
and Yahia, 2009; Yahia et al. , 2006a). The postharvest handling system used
for mangoes also depends on the marketing system in which the fruit will be
sold. This includes factors such as distance to the market, the desires and
expectations of the consumers in that market, and the availability of labour,
technology and infrastructure required for various handling options (Yahia et al.