Diagnostic study of the harvest date of mangoes (Mangifera indica L.) produced in the Korhogo department, Northern Côte d’Ivoire

In Côte d’Ivoire, mango cultivation offers economic and nutritional advantages for production areas. However, yields are low and are affected by the harvest date, which impacts mango maturity and quality, making it difficult to improve the performance of the cultivation system. This study aims to contribute to improving the quality of harvested ‘Kent’ mangoes by determining the harvest date and its impact on their physicochemical characteristics. The study was conducted in 28 mango orchards distributed across three main areas: Korhogo-Diarra, Korhogo-Boundiali, and Korhogo-Ferkessédougou. In each area, seven villages were randomly selected. At the fruit level, quality was measured on a sample of 350 mangoes at each harvest. For each harvest date, morphological and physicochemical characterization was performed on the 350 fruits at harvest and after ripening at room temperature. The results showed that the harvest time for mangoes varied from 80 to 115 days after flowering (daf). The harvest date significantly influenced certain characteristics such as initial mass, mass loss, and soluble sugar content after ripening. In contrast, morphological dimensions (length, width, circumference) were not significantly affected. Mangoes harvested at 110 daf exhibited better physicochemical quality with rapid ripening and a high sugar content. In conclusion, the optimal harvest period is between 100 and 110 daf to guarantee optimal commercial quality while minimizing post-harvest losses.