Abstract
The abrico (Mammea americana L.) is a Tropical American fruit crop with potential for plantation and estate agriculture in Florida. The fruit are large (600 to 2000 g) and the flavor is agreeable for most as a fresh fruit and as a preserved product. There has been little systematic selection of superior clones of abrico either within or outside of its native range. The fruit is consumed locally throughout Central America and the Caribbean, but has never attained appeal within an international market. Over the last 4 years the Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden (FTBG) has endeavored to make a collection of superior clones of abrico. Clonal material has been collected in the Dominican Republic, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Hawaii, and most extensively in Nicaragua. The criteria for selection have been a large fruit, heavy production, agreeable flavor and ease in separation of the flesh from the seed(s). There are currently 14 selections under trial in South Florida at the Williams Grove Genetic Resource Center of FTBG. Production and fruit quality data collection began in 2005.
