Development of GA3 tropical fruit varieties and cultivation techniques in Taiwan

摘要

For the past decades, scientists of Taiwan have bred and released a number of GA3 fruit varieties, including 'Emperor' guava, five processing pineapple cultivars and eleven fresh use pineapple cultivars, 3 wax apple cultivars, 2 sugar apple, and 1 atemoya. These new cultivars provide consumers a richer choices of safe and healthy products and better fruit quality that greatly enrich the food supply for the people in Taiwan. The most preferred characteristics for varietal development of fruit are targeted at high total soluble solids (TSS), high ratio of edible flesh, pest and disease resistance, longer shelf life, and enhanced plant vigor. In some fruit, color of flesh or skin, high yielding potential and rich nutrient contents are also important. Recently, cultivars with high resistant/tolerance to pests and diseases are emphasized to reduce application of agrochemicals and for food safety concerns. With diverse weather conditions, we have developed cultivation techniques for unseasonal fruit production, especially in tropical fruit like wax apple, guava, pineapple and sugar apple. These fruit trees can be produced in their right season and subsequent off-seasons as well, even for year-round production. For example, wax apple is originally produced during April to July in Taiwan. By using forcing culture technique with black net coverage, girdling, flooding, cut roots, and fertilizers, it may alter the harvest time to November to March. Recently Taiwan's main export markets for GA3 fruits are Mainland China, Canada, Hong Kong, and Singapore. Some smaller markets in developed and developing countries are continually growing.