Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
temperature, rainfall amount and distribution, evapotranspiration and soil
moisture. These climate factors have had, and continue to have, a signifi cant
impact on abiotic and biotic factors that af ect fruit production, which will be
discussed in the individual fruit chapters.
Frequently tropical soils are highly leached and acid, with aluminium
toxicity occurring. Nitrogen levels are frequently low, due to high rainfall. The
continual high temperature in the tropics means that organic matter turnover
is high, compounded by low nitrogen availability and poor soil structure.
Leached soils are high in iron and low in phosphorus, and show micronutrient
defi ciencies (Zn, Mn, S).
Pests and diseases are more prolifi c in the tropics, with year-round
development in the absence of a cold winter (no frost, snow or ice) to reduce
inoculum and pest levels. This biotic stress carries over to the postharvest stage
and contributes to high postharvest losses. Integrated pest management (IPM)
is now being widely applied in the tropics, where it can be successful. Ongoing
research will lead to wider application by reducing pest populations below
levels that cause economic injury.
FURTHER READING
Centeno, G. (2005) El mercado de las frutas tropicales exóticas en la Unión Europea.
CIMS, Alajuela, Costa Rica.
Chandler, W.H. (1958)
Evergreen Orchards
. Lea and Febiger. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Coronel, R.E. (1983) Promising Fruits of the Philippines. College, Laguna, Philippines,
College of Agriculture, University of the Philippines at Los Banos.
FAO (2003) Tropical fruits - their nutrient values, biodiversity and contribution to
health and nutrition. Intergovernmental group on bananas and tropical fruits,
third session, ftp.fao.org/unfao/bodies/ccp/ba-tf/04/j0715e.pdf (accessed 12
November 2009).
Gepts, P. (2008) Tropical environments, biodiversity, and the origin of crops. In: Moore, P.
and Ming, R. (eds)
Genomics of Tropical Crop Plants
. Springer, New York, pp. 1-20.
Meyer, N., Mittermeier, R.A., Mittermeier, C.G., da Fonseca, G.A.B. and Kent, J. (2000)
Biodiversity hotspots for conservation priorities.
Nature
403, 853-858.
Norman, M.J.T., Pearson, C.J. and Searle, P.G.E. (1995)
The Ecology of Tropical Food Crops
.
Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK.
Popenoe, W. (1974)
Manual of Tropical and Subtropical Fruits
. Hafner Press, New York.
Facsimile of the original 1920 edition.
Sabbe, S., Verbeke, W. and Van Damme, P. (2009) Familiarity and purchasing intention
of Belgian consumers for fresh and processed products.
British Food Journal
110,
805-818.
Sarris, A. (2003) Medium-term prospects for agricultural commodities - projections to
the year 2010. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome
October 2009).
