Pollination and Fruit Productivity

Abstract

Asia has great diversity of tropical fruits than other continents. Asia has 500 different types of tropical fruit species. Major Asian countries producing tropical fruits include India, China, the Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, and Pakistan. Indian subcontinent has over 300 species whereas Africa has about 1200. Tropical fruit production in Africa is mostly concentrated in Nigeria, Burundi, South Africa, Congo, Cameroon, Egypt, and Angola. India is the largest producer of tropical fruits followed by Brazil, China, Mexico, and the Philippines (FAO 2001). The most common tropical fruit producing areas are Central and South America (papaya, avocado, pineapple, guava), Asia (most citrus fruits, litchi), and South and South-east Asia (banana, mango, mangosteen, durian) (Gepts 2008). Intercontinental migrations have been responsible for spreading tropical fruits throughout the world which adapted differently depending upon different environments. For example mango which is native of Indo-Burma region has spread to South-east Asia to the east coast of Africa. The orange was moved, most likely by Arab traders, to the Mediterranean and southern Europe. Similarly, the Portuguese spread tropical fruits from their colony in Brazil around the Cape of Good Hope to Goa in India, Malacca in Malaysia, China and Japan (Table 2.1). Table 2.1 World production of major tropical fruits from FAO Statistics Division (FAO 2009) Fruit Important producing countries Avocado Mexico, United States, Dominican Republic, Brazil, Colombia, Chile, South Africa, Indonesia, Israel, Spain Banana Dessert Burundi, Nigeria, Costa Rica, Mexico, Colombia, Ecuador, Brazil, India, Indonesia, Philippines, Papua New Guinea, Spain, Central America Banana Plantain Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela, Ivory Coast, Cameroon, Sri Lanka, Myanmar Citrus Oranges Brazil, United States, India, Mexico, Spain, China, Italy, Egypt, Pakistan, Greece, South Africa Citrus Tangerines and Mandarins Brazil, United States, India, Mexico, Spain, China, Italy, Egypt, Pakistan, Greece, South Africa, Japan Coconut Indonesia, Philippines, India, Sri Lanka, Brazil, Thailand, Mexico, Vietnam, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea Mango India, Pakistan, Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand, Mexico, Haiti, Brazil, Nigeria Papaya Nigeria, Mexico, Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, Thailand, Sri Lanka Pineapple Philippines, Thailand, India, Indonesia, China, Brazil, United States, Mexico, Nigeria, Vietnam