Priority indigenous fruit species in Asia

The Asia and the Pacific region are home to a diverse range of plant genetic resources. There is a tremendous opportunity to utilise this diversity for sustainable production, thus contributing to poverty reduction, improved human health, biodiversity conservation and more efficient natural resources management in the region

The mission of the Centre for Underutilised Crops (CUC) is to contribute to food security, improved nutrition and economic welfare of human beings through sustainable and increased economic production of food and industrial raw materials by developing and using the untapped biological diversity of underutilised crops. It has produced a large number of information materials on Asian priority fruit species:

Jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus)

is widely esteemed in tropical Asia where it originated as a cultigen, although its distribution is now pantropical. Jackfruit contains high levels of vitamins A, B and C as well as potassium, calcium, iron, proteins and carbohydrates and its production can also generate income for poor farmers thereby helping to alleviate poverty.

• Jackfruit annotated bibliography 1999-2004
• Jackfruit manual
• Jackfruit monograph
• Jackfruit factsheet
• Jackfruit poster (processing and product information)

Ber/jujube (Ziziphus mauritiana)

fruit have  high sugar content and contain high levels of vitamins A and C, phosphorus and calcium.

• Ber annotated bibliography 1999 -2004
• Ber manual
• Ber factsheet
• Ber poster (processing and product information)

Tamarind (Tamarindus indica)

is a multipurpose tropical fruit tree used primarily for its fruits, which are eaten fresh or processed, used as a seasoning or spice. The fruit contain protein, carbohydrates, potassium, phosphorus, calcium, vitamin C, thiamine and niacin. The fruit and seeds are also processed for non-food uses.

• Tamarind annontated bibliography
• Tamarind factsheet
• Tamarind monograph
• Tamarind poster (processing and product information)

Bael (Aegle marmelos)

fruit contain high levels of protein, carbohydrates, minerals, carotene, thiamine, riboflavin, niacin and vitamin C.

• Bael poster (processing and product information)

Lapsi (Choerospondias axillaris)

is particularly well-known in Nepal though widespread throughout Asia. Its fruit are rich in Vitamin C.

• Lapsi poster (processing and product information)

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