This document discusses tropical fruits and CIAT's work related to them. It focuses on two tropical fruits in particular: chontaduro (Bactris gasipaes) and coconut. For chontaduro, CIAT developed a harvesting tool to assist with its difficult harvesting process, and conducted research on improving its cooking methods and assessing its nutritional properties. For coconut, CIAT is working to characterize local germplasm in Latin America that may be less susceptible to lethal yellowing disease, which has killed many coconut palms. The project also involves tissue culture propagation and control methods for the coconut palm weevil. Overall, the document outlines CIAT's efforts to improve small farmers' livelihoods and market access through research on

1. Tropical Fruits Alonso González CIAT 2011

2. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1302281/Amazing-sculptures-carved-fruit.html

3. Our mission Improve the competitiveness of small tropical-fruit growers and service suppliers through information and technologies that result in sustainable practices and production systems, thus improving access to markets and increasing family incomes

5. > 90% production of tropical fruits by small farmers in developing countries

6. Increasing demand in national and international markets

7. Research demanded from regional partners

8. Large biodiversity (perennial and semi-perennial) opportunity for targeting different agro ecologies

9. A platform where we can integrate Biophysical and Social Sciences4

10. Diversity of Tropical Fruits >500sp in Asia. 2% commercial >1200 spp in America 4,5 % commercial >400 sp in Africa. 5

11. Business development out of Biodiversity: Durian-(Penang, 2011)

12. Characterization and use of Genetic Diversity Eco-efficient Production Systems Access to equitable markets Strategic Directions: Tropical Fruits

13. Chontaduro (Bactris gasipaes)

14. Bactrisgasipaes- Distribution Fuente: http://gisweb.ciat.cgiar.org/mapforgen/bac_gas.html

15. Chontaduro Considered underutilized Very important in some markets (Colombia, Costa Rica, Manaus, Lima) and as staple food in humid tropics (Pacific coast, Amazon) Highly nutritious Very underdeveloped as fruit Very important as palm-heart

16. Harvesting challenges 10 a 12 m high

17. Development of Harvesting Tool

18. Bajachonta: Assessing the impact of innovation In rural communities

19. Functionalproperties

20. Development of cookingprotocol Procesos de cocción Clasificación diferentes tiempos de cocción Materia prima Análisis de dureza Oxalato Análisis Sensorial Sabaletas y CIAT

21. Outputs-lessons Cooking time is less than 60 min Fruits do not get softer if cooked for longer time Women could save up to 2/3 of energy resources Time not used for cooking allows more dedication to their families There is a genetic component that controls hardness of fruits Community based cooking should be considered to reduce costs

22. COASTAL – light bluesystemsaroundthecoast of northern South America and Central America, includingtheCaribbean

23. Coconut importance LAC~700,000 ha SOCIAL CROP

24. Nariño: 50.1% Cauca: 22.0%

25. Lethalyellowingand Red Ring Diseasekillingcoconutpalms in LAC In some communities 80% of coconut plants are dead Lack of Coconut=No $ Atlantic Tall palms, highly susceptible to LY

27. Lifecycle of red ring disease La Palma cae por su propio peso debido al daño causado por la larva. Palma sana de 2-10 años de edad. La hembra de coleoptero adulta emerge, algunas internamente infectadas con una gran cantidad de nematodos del cocotero La hembra : nemátodos durante la oviposición. Algunas larvas del picudo están infectadas con el estadio de disperción del nemátodo. Los coleopteros de una población son atraidos para alimentarse, reproducirse y ovopositar en la palma que está muerindo. Infección y reproducción del nemátodo en la planta. Sintomas de la enfermedad en la Planta. Corte transversal del tallo de un cocotero infectado mostrando sintomas de anillo rojo del tejido necrosado.

28. Tissue culture Propagation Platform: allows germplasm movement

29. May 2011- CIAT Tropical Fruits Team