ISHS Acta Horticulturae 582: International Symposium on Mediterranean Horticulture: Issues and Prospects
THE FRUIT INDUSTRY AND THE ROLE OF RESEARCH IN THE MEDITERRANEAN BASIN |
| Authors: | C. Fideghelli, S. Sansavini |
| Keywords: | temperate, tropical, fruit, nut, citrus, research, Mediterranean. |
| Abstract:
The Mediterranean Basin is one of the world’s most important horticultural districts. It’s typical climate of hot dry summers and cool wet winters has been for over 10 millennia the driving ecological force in the historical development and spread of horticulture wherever mankind has put down roots around the Sea’s shores and hin-terlands. Several of the ancient world’s main civilizations arose in and around the Mediterranean and greatly contributed to the expansion of an array of horticultural crops. The Basin’s fruit industry has been a key component in the historical develop-ment of the region’s horticulture, extending in technology to the temperate continental areas beyond the Mediterranean proper. According to FAO data, the Basin’s size of this sector today extends to almost 6 million hectares and accounts for an annual out-put of almost 50 million tonnes. Temperate fruits are the most important group, ac-counting for 40% of the fruit area and 50% of the tonnage, while nuts make up 36% of area but contribute only 4% to total production. Citrus covers 18% of the area and 40% of the tonnage; tropical fruits are of limited importance. Given the climate con-straints, current research in the fruit industry strives to enhance the efficiency of irri-gation, reduce or offset soil salinity, upgrade local genetic resources, develop and safe-guard native germplasm, and prevent and control virus and virus-like diseases. The primary objectives of these efforts are to increase production efficiency and fruit qual-ity in order to increase market competitiveness. | |
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