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Annual Tropical Fruits

This document discusses annual tropical fruit crops that are grown as annuals in temperate regions. It focuses on two important plant families - Cucurbitaceae (squashes, melons, cucumbers) and Solanaceae (tomatoes, peppers, eggplant). Many of these crops were domesticated thousands of years ago in both the Americas and Africa/Asia. Technology like canning and refrigeration has allowed commercial production in more regions. The document provides details on the origin, domestication, cultivation and uses of important crops in these families.

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56 views53 pages

Annual Tropical Fruits

This document discusses annual tropical fruit crops that are grown as annuals in temperate regions. It focuses on two important plant families - Cucurbitaceae (squashes, melons, cucumbers) and Solanaceae (tomatoes, peppers, eggplant). Many of these crops were domesticated thousands of years ago in both the Americas and Africa/Asia. Technology like canning and refrigeration has allowed commercial production in more regions. The document provides details on the origin, domestication, cultivation and uses of important crops in these families.

Uploaded by

Ahmad saadadin
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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ANNUAL TROPICAL FRUITS

David S. Seigler
Department of Plant Biology
University of Illinois
Urbana, Illinois 61801 USA

seigler@life.uiuc.edu
http://www.life.uiuc.edu/seigler
Annual Tropical Fruits - Outline

Importance
• Local
• World-wide
Botanical
Domestication
Changes -some of these crops ancient
Technology (especially canning and
refrigeration)
Cultivation - propagation -
Most Important
• Cucurbitaceae
• + squashes
• + watermelons and
cantaloupes
• + cucumbers
• Solanaceae
• + tomatoes
• + peppers
• + eggplant
READING

CHAPTER 4 IN TEXT.
Introduction

• There are many types of tropical


fruits. Some are exotic and not
found commonly in temperate regions
of the world. Others are well known
cultivars such as tomatoes, squash,
green peppers and cucumbers.
• None of them can survive winters
such as occur in Illinois. We
circumvent this problem by planting
them as annual crops.
Fruits in a Mexican market
Zea mays, as an annual tropical
fruit
Phaseolus
vulgaris, wax
beans
• Most of the other types of
tropical crops are perennials
that cannot be cultivated in
temperate zones of the world.
pp. 82 ff, pp. 87 ff.
• Annual tropical fruit crops mostly belong
to two plant families: the Cucurbitaceae
and the Solanaceae. Both are
represented in both the New and the
Old World.
• Fruits were (are) a major part of the
diets of hunter-gatherers.
• The remains of these plants are found
in both the Old and New World.
• Changes brought about by
domestication.
• In terms of food value, these
fruits contain sugars, starch
(some), vitamins and
minerals.
• Fruits are important for
variety in human diets.
Technology
Until recently, commercial
development of fruit crops has mostly
occurred in the U.S.
Catsup or ketchup played a major
role in the development of the
tomato.
Freezing, canning, and drying were
also important.
In the U.S., production of fruit
crops is largely mechanized.
Production of fruits is tied strongly
to the socio-economic situation.
Squashes and their relatives

• Members of the squash family,


the Cucurbitaceae, have been
eaten in both the Old and New
World for thousands of years.
• Most members of the family
are annuals and are vines.
• The seeds, fruit and blossoms
of many are eaten.
Squashes and their relatives

• Cucurbits are usually grown


from seed. The fruits of members
of this group are pepos. They
are basically inferior fruited
berries.
• See pp. 83 and 85 for a
diagram of the fruits etc.
• Most wild cucurbits are
bitter and poisonous.
In the Americas three genera, Lagenaria,
Cucurbita, and Sechium, were especially
important, whereas in Asia Cucumis and in
Africa Citrullis were common.
• The taxonomy of true squashes
(members of the genus Cucurbita)
is very complicated.
• Most squashes and pumpkins are of
one species, Curcubita pepo. There
are “fossils” of these fruits in
Mexico from 7500 to 9000 years
old.
• Squashes are native to the
Americas and were eaten 5-6
thousand years ago.
• Pumpkins are eaten as a vegetable
in most parts of the world.
An assortment of Cucurbita pepo
fruits (along with Ted Carey and
his wife)
Cucurbita pepo, Courtesy Dr. Hans Hummel
pumpkins
Yellow crook neck
squash, Cucurbita
pepo
• Three other cultivated species
of the genus Cucurbita are
encountered.
• These species arose in South
America and are only known as
domesticated plants.
• Melons are mostly native to
the Old World. Watermelons
(Citrullis lanatus) are
native to Africa.
• They were in Europe early and
in China by the 11th century.
• They have lots of water and
were often used as a source
of water in dry areas.
The Complete Book of
Fruits & Vegetables,
F. Bianchini, F.
Corbetta, M. Pistola,
Crown Publishers, New
York, 1973

Watermelons,
Citrullis
vulgaris
• In some Oriental cultures melons
are preserved in salt.
• Cantaloupes and honey dew melons
(Cucumis melo) are also native to
Africa, but were known by the
Romans. The wild ancestors of
these plants are unknown.
• They are closely related to
cucumbers.
• Cucumbers (Cucumis sativus) are
native to southern Asia.
Cucumis melo, cantaloupe
Cucumis
sativa,
cucumber
More cucumbers
• The bottle gourd (Lagenaria
siceraria) was found in both the
New and Old World. Has long been
cultivated in both. Probably
drifted across Atlantic from
Africa to S. America.
• The bottle gourd is not only
used as a food plant, but is
probably most important as a
container plant.
Lagenaria
siceraria,
bottle gourd
More bottle
gourds
• Chayote (Sechium edule) is a
one seeded, Mexican squash-
like plant.
• Luffa and momordica are minor
cucurbit crops.
Chayote, Sechium
edule
Luffa
aegyptiaca,
luffa
Bitter melon, Cucurbitaceae
Solanaceous annual plants

Most of these are native to the


New World, but some Old World
species also are cultivated
(such as the eggplant).
The tomato, Solanum esculentum

This fruit plant is native to Peru


or Mexico. Most of the wild
relatives of the tomato occur in
Peru. The fruit appears to have
been domesticated in Mexico.
Tomatoes were considered poisonous
by some Europeans and by people in
the U.S. until the early 1800's.
Solanum (Lycopersicon) esculentum,
Tomato fields
near Davis,
California
Solanum
(Lycopersico
n)
cheesemanii,
a primitive
tomato
relative
• Wild tomatoes are outbreeding
perennial herbs. Cherry tomatoes
more similar to original types.
• Selection for self
pollination.
• Humans have also selected for
insect, fungal, and viral
resistance.
• Taste has been sacrificed for
durability in some commercial
tomatoes.
•
Physalis ixocarpa, tomatillo
Peppers
• Fruits of the genus Capsicum are all native
to the New World. There are about 5 species
of cultivated members of this group.
• Capsicum annuum was probably
domesticated in Mexico. At Tehuacán,
pepper seeds 8000 years old have been
found.
• Most were pungent types. Selection for
sweet varieties probably arose later.
Capsicum annuum, chile pequin or
petín
Capsicum
annuum, chile
or pepper
Chiles in a Madagascar market
Chiles
The eggplant, Solanum
melongena
• Eggplant or aubergine is the
only major member of the
Solanaceae grown as an annual
fruit from the Old World.

• Probably native to India or


Southeast Asia.

• Came to Europe in the 15th


century.

• Selection for large fruited


The Complete Book of
Fruits & Vegetables,
F. Bianchini, F.
Corbetta, M. Pistola,
Crown Publishers, New
York, 1973

Solanum
melongena,
eggplant or
aubergine
Okra, Abelmoschus (Hibiscus) esculentus,
Malvaceae

• Okra (Malvaceae) is an
important tropical annual fruit
plant.
• Okra arose in Africa and was
introduced into the Caribbean and
the U.S. along with black slaves.
• The crop appeared early in
southwest Asia as well.
Abelmoschus
(Hibiscus)
esculentus,
okra

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