Annona species

Four of the five species covered in this monograph originated in South or Meso-America and one seems to have or iginated 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, recei ved international attention in publications of the US National Academy of Sciences (N AS, 1975, NRC, 1989). These five species have been selected for atten tion because available evidence suggests the possibility of expanding their use and importance. This does not mean that other Annona species have no potential. Thr ee others, at least, have been recommended for attention. A. purpurea Moc. and Sassé, soncoya, is a small tree of Mexico and Central America th at 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 atten tion. 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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