RESEARCH PROGRAMME ON TEMPERATE FRUITS IN REUNION ISLAND-EVOLUTION AND PERSPECTIVES

Reunion Island is a part of France, located overseas in the Indian Ocean at 21° latitude South and belongs to the Mascareignes Archipelago, 435 miles east of Madagascar.
The high relief of Volcanic origin, provides agrometeorological conditions appropriate for a traditional growing of temperate fruits.

The presence of IRFA in Reunion Island since 1967, the introduction of varieties selected for their low chilling requirements, a rigorous phytosanitary control and an improvement of husbandry practices have led farmers to expand fruit growing activities.

Since 1984, strawberry and peach-tree cultivation constitute the subjects of the two main research programmes of IRFA on temperate fruits.
The themes of study are various, but a good knowledge of the phenology of peach-tree in Reunion Island has helped to understand the growth and fruiting capacities of this deciduous fruit in mild winter areas, and led to a better control of production.
Furthermore, behavioural studies on other deciduous fruits opens the way for production possibilities.

This paper summarizes the evolution of the accumulated knowledge on temperate fruits in Reunion Island in recent years and submits new research perspectives for the short-term.

III International Workshop on Temperate Zone Fruits in the Tropics and Subtropics

E. Parisot

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.1990.279.16