Annona Species Monograph.pdf - Crops for the Future

Chapter 1. Introduction
A. C. de Q. Pinto
Four of the five species covered in this monograph originated in South or
Meso-America and one seems to have originated in eastern Africa. The first
group includes Annona cherimola Mill, cherimoya, A. muricata L., soursop,
A. reticulata L., custard apple, and A. squamosa L., sugar apple. The African
species is A. senegalensis Pers., wild soursop. Cherimoya is the only species
adapted to subtropical or tropical highland conditions; the others are mostly
adapted to the tropical lowlands but can be grown in the subtropics. Two,
cherimoya and soursop, received international attention in publications of the
US National Academy of Sciences (NAS, 1975, NRC, 1989). These five
species have been selected for attention because available evidence suggests
the possibility of expanding their use and importance. This does not mean
that other Annona species have no potential. Three others, at least, have been
recommended for attention. A. purpurea Moc. and Sassé, soncoya, is a small
tree of Mexico and Central America that is occasionally cultivated for its
agreeably flavoured fruit (see Gauthier and Poole, 2003, Enhancing the role
of forest fruits in sustaining livelihoods of forest margin communities (R7349
- FRP)). A. scleroderma Saff., posh té, is from the same area and has a fruit
that is reputed to taste better than soursop (Uphof, 1959). In the Brazilian
Cerrados (the savannahs of central Brazil), A. crassiflora Mart., araticum, is a
popular minor fruit, also used in traditional medicine (Almeida et al., 1998),
and is now receiving research attention. Other species, supposedly with
promise, were introduced to certain areas but did not become important. The
case of A. glabra L., pond apple, taken to S. E. Asia is an example.
The strongest consumer demand, and hence production, is for cherimoya,
soursop and sugar apple. The fruits of these species are delicately flavoured
and are marketed mainly in local, regional or national trade, only rarely in
international trade. Pulp of these fruits is sold fresh or frozen, and is usually
used for desserts or made into sherbets and ice cream. Although custard
apple and wild soursop are less important economically, their fresh fruits are
sold in the markets of some developing countries, and their pulp and seeds
are also used for medicinal purposes more commonly than those of the major
species.
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