Achieving effective expansion of fruit production in the Tropics and nearby regions.
Knight R. J. Jr.
Author Affiliation: Agric. Res. Serv., US Dep. Agric., 13601 Old Cutler Road, Miami, Florida 33158, USA.
Acta Horticulturae : 17-21
Abstract : Needs for increased fruit production in the Tropics by the year 2000 can be met in part by growing larger numbers of quick-maturing crops such as Carica papaya, and at higher elevations, Carica pentagona. An additional approach is to expand production of crops indigenous within a region, e.g., edible fruit-bearing species of Garcinia and Sandoricum in southeast Asia and of Carica, Ananas and Persea in tropical America. Expanded use of fruits new to cultivation or new in an area, such as the native Eugenia stipitata in Amazonia and the most common southeast Asian fruits in the American and African tropics, and the avocado and peach palm [Bactris gasipaes] in the Old World tropics, can constitute a third approach toward meeting food needs. A fourth approach, much needed, is plant exploration directed toward finding wild germplasm with traits needed in crop plants, such as the 14 edible species of Mangifera growing in Borneo. Critical Third World food needs can be met in part by the palm Astrocaryum tucuma, a species of the humid tropics which supplies required aminos also found in milk. Carotenoids to prevent the threat of blindness prevalent in some areas can be supplied by pulp of oil and peach palms, Mangifera indica and Calocarpum sapota [Pouteria sapota], among other fruit crops.