When we pick a ripe mango a major fact that must be observed is the black spots in the outer surface of the fruit. There can be different types of black spots on the outer surface as well as inside.
Is it OK to eat mango with black spots?
If there are black spots on the outer surface of the mango it doesn’t mean the inner is bad. Rotten ones feel soft when giving a gentle squeeze on black spots. Otherwise, it is safe to eat. Even you can eat the flesh by removing black parts inside.
It’s really difficult to choose a mango without black spots. Even in the unripe mangoes of some varieties, there are black spots. Actually, that’s the nature of mango outer skin. Therefore it’s not harmful to eat mangoes with black spots.
On the other hand, the black spot is a symptom of rotting mangoes. It starts to develop around the stem of the mango. If you have seen the symptom you must eat those mangoes today itself. Because inner flesh is damaging slower from the black spots near the stem.
With time black spots spread all over the mango also affect the rotting of the flesh. By squeezing you can feel soft. Also, it emits a strong spoiling smell But still, you can remove the black area and eat the remaining part.
Mostly you cant see rotten mangoes in mango trees because they drop when they start to ripe. As I told you above black spots appear even in the Unripe mangos in some varieties. We don’t see them due to the dark green color skin. with the ripeness, the fruit turns to yellow color.
Then clearly we can see the black spots through yellow color. These are not damaging the fruit. Because these spots are unique to these species. If you are not sure you can check whether these mangoes are rotten or not by gently squeezing them.
Why do mangoes have black spots?
There are several reasons to have black spots in mango as below.
1.Stem end rot
Normally rotting of mango starts from the stem. In the beginning, we can see the black spots appearing around the stem. This does not penetrate inside the flesh but with time due to the spread of dark spots all over the fruit rot penetrates to the flesh.
Therefore if you see the symptoms of appearing black spots near the stem don’t remove them still you can eat them by removing the rotten part.
2.Cuts and Punctures
When picking mangoes from tall trees they fall down and some cuts and punctures create on the surface. With time these damaged spots turn into black color. Sometimes it penetrates into the flesh but still, you can eat these kinds of mangoes.
3.Sting
Due to the sting caused by insects, some small black spots appear on the outer surface. But most probably it doesn’t affect the inner flesh because these stinks are not penetrated deep inside.
4.Bacterial black spot disease
This cause due to specific bacteria. MAinly this bacteria spread on leaves, stems, and fruits. You can identify this disease by the small black water-soaked spots on mango fruit. This disease is spread by the rain and pruning tools.
5.Ooze of sap
After picking mangoes from the tree sap is oozing out from the stem and with time it dries on the skin and turns to black spots. These spots don’t mean that the mangoes are rotten. Actually, these spots don’t affect the inner flesh.
How to treat black spots in mango?
There are several methods you can follow to avoid black spots of mangoes before picking and after picking from trees.
The first thing that you can do is if you see the spread of black spot disease to the plant you can remove the branches leaves that have affected. By this method, you can stop the spreading of the disease to healthy branches. If you don’t get any action at the beginning it will spread to the other mangoes trees near it.
Sometimes removing affected leaves and branches doesn’t stop the spread of disease. Then you can spray copper oxychloride-based products. This can stop the spread of the disease but can’t cure the disease.
Also to control the Bacterial black spots you can use sprays containing Thiophanate methyl or Benzimidazole.
Not only bacterial diseases also there are fungal diseases related to mango trees. You can’t stop the spread by spraying fungicides. But you can stop the spread of this disease by spraying fungicides before infecting them to the plant.
As I told you above there can be black spots on the outer skin due to the way of picking or falling the mangoes from the tree. By that there can be damages occurred to the fruit. With time that damaged areas can turn into a black color. Also, it affects the inner flesh. To protect mangoes you can use a careful method to avoid damaging them.
After picking the mangoes sap is oozing from the stem. If you not clean that by washing the fruit it will spread all over the mangoes and lately it damages the skin and turns black. Therefore you must wash the mangoes and keep them dry before storing them. This method helps to keep the mangoes without black spots.
The most important thing is you cant remove black spots after it spreads to the fruits. The only way to protect your mangoes is to follow the above methods before the spread of black spots.
We can eat the skin of mangoes as well. But if there are black spots it’s not recommended to it these parts. But don’t remove mangoes by checking the outer black spots. Because most probably Outer flesh is more different than you think.
If you don’t have a good experience in choosing good mangoes it’s better to cut a small slice from the stem and get a bit of idea about the outer flesh.
Conclusion
The spreading of black spots of mangoes can be happen due to many reasons Such as fungal, bacterial diseases, and the damage that occurs with the wrong way of picking mangoes from the trees. But in most cases, this damage occurs only to the outer skin. In most cases, it doesn’t affect the inner parts. Therefore still we can consume mangoes with black spots.
To store fruits at home I use this wire basket. I think it is worth the price.
By gently squeezing and by smelling we can identify the good mangoes via bad mangoes. If you still not sure then you can cut a slice from the stem and examine whether mangoes are edible or not.
