Kit to detect fake carabao mango seedlings developed

LOS BAÑOS, Laguna, Philippines – To address the problem of fake seedlings, a team of researchers at the Visayas State University (VSU) in Leyte has developed a technology that can detect a true-to-type carabao mango.

The team developed a diagnostic dipstick kit that reacts when dipped into a mango leaf extract. A dark purple line that appears on the strip indicates that the extract is from a carabao mango. Other mango varieties will not have the same reaction.

The Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development funded the research project titled “Genetic Markers and Immuno-based Identification of Philippine carabao mango.”

The research team was led by VSU president Edgard Tulin.

The Department of Science and Technology said the kit would be tested in nurseries accredited by the Bureau of Plant Industry.

Many nurseries are reportedly selling fake carabao mango seedlings to rake in bigger profit.

Carabao mango is the country’s top fruit export in 2011 with 21,081 tons amounting to $11 million exported to Japan, Hong Kong, South Korea, Singapore and the United States.

Dried mangoes are also exported to Canada, China, Hong Kong, Japan and the US.