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In traditional pistachio cultivation, prior to sowing seeds the latter are soaked in water for different times as farmers claim that this will contribute to germination. To our best knowledge, this is the first attempt to evaluate the effect of different water-soaking time periods on germination in pistachio. For this purpose, seeds of pistachio (P. vera L. 'Badami') were treated with water for 1, 6, 12 and 24 h. We monitored germination percentage, germination rate, mean time for germination rate, and seedling height at different stages, number of leaves, shoot and root dry weight, and trunk diameter. Our results indicated that germination percentage and rate significantly increased and seedling height increased in seeds, which were treated for 24 h. Although, plant root dry weight significantly decreased in seeds of this treatment, mean times for germination (MTG) values were not found to be statistically significant between treatments. We observed that the 6 h soaking treatment led to an increase in shoot and root dry weight, and trunk diameter. Also leaf numbers and root length values were highest in the 1 h soaked seeds, although differences were not significant. Positive relationship was observed between the plant shoot length and plant leaf number.

Numerous tropical fruit species are commercially restricted to their production areas and only sold on local, regional and national markets. They are virtually unknown to temperate area consumers. However, growing demand in Europe for natural, nutritious and healthy products and new flavours offers interesting perspectives for creating new and international market outlets for novel tropical fruit juices. Five tropical fruit species from Latin America (i.e., acai (Euterpe oleracea Mart.), camu camu (Myrciaria dubia (Kunth) McVaugh), cashew apple (Anacardium occidentale L.) from Brazil, and naranjilla (Solanum quitoense Lam.) and tree tomato (Solanum betaceum Cav.) from Ecuador) were selected as case species for a SWOT analysis. Through desk research, field visits and expert interviews, opportunities, threats, strengths and weaknesses related to the fruits' potential use in the European fruit juice industry were investigated. Findings indicate that tropical fruit species with outstanding nutritional values and proven health benefits have substantial market potential. Lack of advanced knowledge about production and processing issues, inconsistent fruit quality, irregular and insufficient fruit supply, and unfamiliarity with the respective fruits and their sensory characteristics by European consumers are the main challenges that have to be dealt with when envisaging product development for the European market.

Southern Ecuador is generally acknowledged to be located in a biodiversity hot spot. Several species of agricultural and horticultural crops can be found there with a huge genetic diversity and can be found in wild or in semi-cultivated status as backyard crops. Cherimoya (Annona cherimola Mill.) and several species of highland papayas (Vasconcella spp.) have their centre of origin in southern Ecuador and are cultivated as minor fruit crops in several subtropical zones worldwide. Little research work has been carried out so far in exploring the crops’ centre of origin. Germplasm collection and characterisation can give valuable information to local and international crop breeding programmes whereas a detailed study of the ecology of wild stands, may provide useful information on climate and soil preferences of the crop and can -combined with a GIS analysesbe used to locate suitable cropping areas. Collection and characterisation of 137 wild and semi-cultivated cherimoya accessions was carried out in southern Ecuador between January 1996 and March 1998. A tremendous variability of pomological characteristics was encountered, typical situation of a main centre of biodiversity. The best accessions collected during these trips can easily withstand preliminary comparison with commercial cherimoya cultivars (‘Fino de Jete’, ‘Bays’, ‘White’, ‘Bronceada’ and ‘Concha Lisa’). The collection of Vasconcella germplasm was carried out between August 1997 and April 2000. A total of 211 accessions of the common species Vasconcella cundinamarcensis (Solms-Laub.) Badillo, V. stipulata (Badillo) Badillo and V. × heilbornii (Badillo) Badillo were collected together with some accessions of the rarer species V. candicans (A. Gray) A.DC., V. microcarpa (Jacq.) A.DC., V. monoica (Desf.) A.DC., V. palandensis (Badillo et al.) Badillo, V. parviflora A.DC. and V. weberbaueri (Harms) Badillo. These accessions showed great variability and raised several questions about their exact taxonomic position. Preliminary studies of the papain content of some of these accessions showed papain activities up to 20 times higher than those of papaya (Carica papaya L.). Edapho-climatological conditions in the collection areas indicated the preferences of cherimoya and highland papayas in their natural environment, and were used, combined with GIS studies, to determine the potential cultivation zones. INTRODUCTION The Andean region with its striking eco-geographical contrasts is generally acknowledged as an important centre of biodiversity and is described as one of the eight centres of plant diversity as defined by Vavilov (Vavilov and Chester, 1950). Ecuador alone accounts for 16,087 plants species (Jorgensen and Leon-Yanez, 1999), being the highest plant diversity of the world per area unit. Within this rich plant biodiversity, several species are known as agricultural or horticultural crops. A lot of these crops however are considered as under-utilised (Izquierdo and Roca, 1998), due to “botanical colonialism” and have often been replaced by crops from Asia, Mexico and Europe Proc. IS on Sust. Use Of Plant Biodiv. Eds. E. Duzyaman Y Badillo et al., 2000) and must be considered as a hot spot for Vasconcella research. In southern Ecuador, Vasconcella cundinamarcensis, V. stipulata and the natural hybrid between these species V. × heilbornii are common and can be found in wild and in backyard gardens. Other less common highland papayas include V. candicans, V. microcarpa, V. monoica, V. palandensis, V. parviflora and V. weberbaueri. Consumption of highland papayas is common in the Andes where fruits are eaten fresh, roasted, in juices, in marmalades or in preserves (Van den Eynden et al., 1999). Only babaco, V. × heilbornii ‘Babaco’, is already commercially developed. It was introduced as a new crop in New Zealand in 1973 (Harman, 1983) from where it spread in the eighties to Australia (Cossio, 1988), Italy (Ferrara et al., 1993), Spain (Merino Merino, 1989), France (CTIFL, 1992), South Africa (Wiid, 1994) and even Switzerland (Evequoz, 1990) and Canada (Kempler et al., 1996) where greenhouse trials are being currently pursued. This study aimed at showing the potential of these native fruit crops. A study of the existing pomological variability in a centre of biodiversity gives valuable information to select potential accessions for future cultivation and/or breeding programmes. An edapho-climatological study of the targeted fruit species in their natural habitat has provided in fact valuable information on their soil and climate preferences which can combined with GISbe used to establish potential cultivation zones. A study of the papain content of highland papayas shows an even broader perspectives for the exploitation of Vasconcella species. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION A collection and characterisation of 137 wild and semi-cultivated cherimoya accessions was carried out in southern Ecuador between January 1996 and March 1998. A large variability of pomological characteristics was encountered, typical for a centre of biodiversity (Scheldeman and Van Damme, 1999). A selection of the best accessions, based on low seed content showed that local accessions easily withstand preliminary comparison with commercial cultivars from Spain (‘Fino de Jete’), United States (‘Bays’ and ‘White’) and Chile (‘Bronceada’ and ‘Concha Lisa’) (Scheldeman et al., 1999). Locally selected cherimoya accessions clearly show higher fruit weight and lower seed

Southern Ecuador is considered to be a centre of biodiversity of the so-called highland papayas. In Southern Ecuador, this group, which comprises lesser-known Andean Caricaccae that grow, mostly in the wild, above 1000 mas1, consists of Carica pubescens (A. DC.) Solms-Laub., C. stipulata Badillo, C. x heilbornii Badillo, C. candicans A. Gray, C. weberbaueri Harms., C. parviflora (A. DC.) Solms-Laub., C. microcarpa Jacq, C. monoica Desf. and the new endemic species C. palandensis Badillo, Van den Eynden & Van Damme. At this moment only the natural hybrid C. x heilbornii nm. pentagona Badillo, commercially known as babaco, is getting attention on the continuously expanding subtropical fruit market. Natural hybridisation and presence of accessions of which taxonomical position (at the species level) remains unclear, combined with a limited number of botanical studies, suggest that the taxonomy of the Caricaceae in Southern Ecuador is still not completely explained. Nevertheless, local collections and characterisation studies show that, from an agronomical point of view, these highland papayas show a big potential for the future. Organoleptic characteristics of some accessions and species are very promising, especially for use as juices and marmalades. Making use of natural or artificial hybridisation can even expand this potential. Analyses of the activity of the proteolytic enzyme complex (papain) of these local accessions and species showed that the latex of the unripe fruit possessed up to 15 times more activity than papaya (Carica papaya L.) cultivars selected and grown for their high enzyme activity. This potential, which needs further detailed study, is increasingly under threat as population is increasing, putting pressure on fallow and forest land and concentrating agricultural systems on food and cash crops, consequently neglecting little known native fruit crops and reducing the natural vegetation in which they occur. A survey on local knowledge of these highland papayas showed that younger people have significantly less knowledge on them than older people proving the urgent need for further studies and conservation strategies.

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.

A study about climate and soil conditions in areas where wild cherimoya (Annona cherimola Mill.) trees can be found, was carried out between August and October 1995 in Loja province (southern Ecuador), which is probably the centre of origin of this fruit species. The objective was to examine the range of edapho-climatological conditions in which wild cherimoya trees occur, in order to obtain an indication of its growth requirements. A zonal classification of Loja province was carried out, using a GIS (Geographical information System), to determine and define characteristics of zones where optimal production is to be expected. A combination of climatological maps, soil maps and 52 soil analyses data from 20 locations allowed to determine requirements in annual mean, maximum and minimum temperatures, yearly precipitation, relative humidity, soil texture, pH and organic matter content. In Loja province, wild cherimoya trees are generally found in mild (mean annual temperature between 19 and 20.5 degrees C) and relatively dry (mean annual precipitation varying between 650 and 1,250 mm) areas with relative humidity ranging from 75 - 85 %. Well drained soils with textures ranging between sandy loam, loam or sandy clay loam, a slightly acid pH that is slightly acid (varying between 5 and 6.5) and a moderate organic matter content (ranging 1 - 5 %) seem to be optimal.