CURRENT SITUATION OF THE USE OF GERMPLASM AND GENETIC IMPROVEMENT OF THE MAIN TROPICAL AND SUBTROPICAL FRUIT TREES OF MEXICO. 1

Abstract

In Mexico, more than 30 species of fruit trees are grown on approximately 817,000 ha (Castillo, 1980), which represents 4.8% of the total cultivated area in this country with an annual value of 1,095 million dollars (Barrientos, 1979). It is 19.7% of the total value of agricultural production.

The cultivation of fruit trees in Mexico not only has economic but also social importance due to the amount of labor used, which on average is 68 days per hectare per year, an amount that is much greater than that used in basic crops.