IMPROVING CHERIMOYA (ANNONA CHERIMOLA MILL.) CULTIVATION EXPLORING ITS CENTRE OF ORIGIN

Loja province (southern Ecuador) is generally acknowledged to be located at the centre of origin of cherimoya (Annona cherimola Mill.), one of the promising Andean fruits that is cultivated on an increasing scale, with countries like Spain, Chile and United States showing growing interest in its commercialisation. A global study of cherimoya characteristics in Loja province conducted from January 1996 till September 1999 provided valuable information for future crop development. Germplasm collection (137 accessions) and characterization showed great variability in fruit characteristics (fruit weight, seed index, soluble solids and botanical form). A number of promising accessions were revealed that could easily compete, in preliminary comparisons, with five commercial cultivars ("Fino de Jete", "Bays", "White", "Bronceada" and "Concha Lisa") from cherimoya exporting countries. Determination of optimal edaphoclimatological growing conditions of wild cherimoya trees gives an indication of the soil (pH, organic matter and texture) and climate (temperature and precipitation) preferences of the species. Suitability maps based on this information prove to be useful tools in locating possible sites for the establishment of commercial plantations. Exploring in detail a crop's centre of origin could facilitate considerably future breeding and crop development programs.