Tomatoes and peppers in Mexico: commercial production and research challenges

Tomatoes and peppers in Mexico: commercial production and research challenges

Shanhua, Tainan AVRDC Taiwan

1989

p.521-535

SB349.A85

Peppers Capsicum annuum and tomatoes Lycopersicon esculentum are together the most important vegetables in Mexico, in terms of acreage, hand labor, value and export. Relative importance can be inferred from the size of the Mexican population (close to 80 million), the daily use of the crops at every social level, and their importance in foreign trade. The combined effect of Mexico`s tropical location and the variety of available agricultural areas ranging from sea level to over 2,000 m, allows year-round production of the two crops, both for local consumption and export. Winter production is located on both coasts, whereas summer production is on the central plateau. Most research is done by the National Institute of Agricultural Research (INIFAP) which has a large and active pepper germplasm bank at the Bajio Experiment Station. National annual production of tomato is close to 2 million t on 73,000 ha. Most of the tomato production for fresh-market, processing and seed production comes from Sinaloa in the northwest coastal region of the country. The region produces high yields of good quality fruit, because of the long harvest periods and effective cultural practices such as hand-transplanting and staking. The summer supply for the huge fresh market of Mexico City and the surrounding metropolitan area (17 million people) is produced within a 300-km radius, which includes high-altitude valleys. Small-scale local production is undertaken in virtually every state. Folir diseases, pinworm, leafminer and fruit firmness are the main research challenges. More than 30 commercial types of peppers are continuously marketed in the area, but local consumption is restricted to pungent types. Pasilla and Ancho types supply most of the dry pepper market Jalapeno and Serrano, the leading types for fresh production, can be produced in areas where the climate is warmer. Bell peppers (sweet peppers) are grown mostly for export to the USA. Wild populations of C. annuum and C. frutescens, known as Piquin or `bird-pepper` are found in several coastal locations or frost-free inner valleys and are marketed fresh or dry. Resistance to tobacco etch virus and Phytophthora capsici found in landraces and Piquin accessions, has been successfully used in breeding programs worldwide. [AS]

Tomato and pepper production in the tropics

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