The strawberry guava : A new fruit species for humid areas in Reunion Island

The strawberry guava (#Psidium cattleianum# Sabine) is a shrub naturalised in several subtropical areas. It produces sweet and aromatic fruit which are appreciated by the inhabitants of the Reunion Island. Processing industries are supplied by fruit gathered in the wild. As strawberry guava thrives well in humid areas where the farming potential is low, its cultivation can become a means to provide additional incomes to fanners, to secure the supply with fruit to industries and to develop the market. Very little information about cropping techniques being available from the literature, a domestication program has been engaged. Variability among plants is of very limited extent so that there was no need to start with a selection program. On farm trials have been established at different elevations and both technical and economical data have been recorded. Some results about the influence of ecological and agronomic factors on growth, yield and fruit quality, as well as data on economics, are presented. The first production occurs as early as two years after plantation and the potential production is high. Fruit quality is affected by fruit load, cultural practices and weather and could be improved by proper crop management. Strawberry guava appears as a profitable fruit crop in humid areas of Réunion Island. The need for further studies for a more effective management of yield and fruit quality is stressed. (Résumé d'auteur