Tropical and Subtropical Fruits

A Mesoamerican origin of cherimoya (Annona cherimola Mill.): Implications for the conservation of plant genetic resources

“…Interest in cherimoya and other species of the Annonaceae has increased in recent years due to the presence of acetogenins, compounds found only in this family with cytotoxic, antitumor, antimalarial and pesticide properties (Alaly, Liu, & McLaughlin, ; Liaw, Wu, Chang, & Wu, ). Spain is the most important commercial producing country of cherimoyas in the world with about 3,000 ha, and commercial production is also important in Peru and Chile and, to a limited extent, in other countries such as Ecuador, Bolivia, Colombia, Portugal, USA, Argentina or Mexico (Galán Sauco, Herrero, & Hormaza, ). Nowadays, the diversity of this crop is mainly conserved in traditional agricultural systems as backyards and living fences of rural areas in Central America, Mexico and South America between 1,000 and 3,000 masl, with limited or none crop management.…”

“…Chile and, to a limited extent, in other countries such as Ecuador, Bolivia, Colombia, Portugal, USA, Argentina or Mexico (Gal an Sauco, Herrero, & Hormaza, 2014). Nowadays, the diversity of this crop is mainly conserved in traditional agricultural systems as backyards and living fences of rural areas in Central America, Mexico and South America between 1,000 and 3,000 masl, with limited or none crop management.…”