Skip to main content

Lost Crops of the Incas Little-Known Plants of the Andes with Promise for Worldwide Cultivation (1989) / Chapter Skim
Currently Skimming:

Pepino
Pages 296-305

The Chapter Skim interface presents what we've algorithmically identified as the most significant single chunk of text within every page in the chapter.
Select key terms on the right to highlight them within pages of the chapter.


From page 297...
... Most are about as big as goose eggs; some are bigger. Inside, they are somewhat like honeydew melons: watery and pleasantly flavored, but normally not overly sweet.2 Despite the fact that South Americans enjoy this fruit, there seems to be a curious lack of awareness for its commercial possibilities elsewhere.
Read the entire page →
From page 298...
... Relatively unknown in other nations but worth trying in all warm-temperate areas, this seems to be a crop with a big future fast approaching. Commercial pepino production has been suggested for southern Brazil, Uruguay, Paraguay, the highlands of Haiti, Puerto Rico, Guatemala, and Mexico—as well as for the cooler areas of Africa and Asia (particularly China)
Read the entire page →
From page 299...
... South Americans and Japanese eat it almost exclusively as a fresh dessert. It is highly suited to culinary experimentation.
Read the entire page →
From page 300...
... Harvesting must be done carefully because the fruits bruise easily and finger markings show up. With current varieties, the fruits on a single bush mature at different times, and several pickings are necessary throughout the warm season.
Read the entire page →
From page 301...
... Particular areas of uncertainty include the following. Fruit Quality Few sweet varieties also have good horticultural and marketing qualities; the skin, although edible, is often tough and bitter; and improperly ripened fruit have a bad aftertaste.
Read the entire page →
From page 302...
... Also, a convenient method for judging ripeness, other than using fruit color, would be extremely valuable. Genetic Development Because pepino reproduces easily by seed, it can be improved readily through selection of sexual variants from cross-pollination.
Read the entire page →
From page 303...
... Botanical Synonyms Solanum variegatum Quiz and Pavon; Solanum guatemalense Hort., and others Common Names Quechua: cachun, xachun Aymara: 'kachan, kachuma Spanish: pepino, pepino dulce, pepino blanco, pepino morado, pepino redondo, pepino de fruta, pepino de ague, mataserrano, peramelon (Canary Islands) English: pepino, Peruvian pepino, pear melon, melon pear, melon shrub, tree melon, sweet cucumber?
Read the entire page →
From page 304...
... . Suma is a vigorous cultivar producing heavy crops of medium to large globose fruits, with regular purple stripes and attractive appearance.
Read the entire page →
From page 305...
... Soils should be above pH 6.0 to avoid disorders such as manganese toxicity and iron deficiency. If soil is too fertile, there can be problems of fruit set and fruit quality.
Read the entire page →

Key Terms

  • fruit quality
  • purple stripes
  • vegetative growth
  • establish roots
  • include analysis

  • regular purple
  • background color
  • south americans
  • market development
  • plant nutrition

  • fruit color
  • green striping
  • canary islands
  • mineral nutrients
  • pale yellow

  • moderately moist
  • north africa
  • frost damage
  • sweet varieties
  • cultural conditions

  • scientifically controlled
  • bitter aftertaste
  • extremely valuable
  • stripes mask
  • field experience

  • pepino reproduces
  • usually unnecessary
  • quality research
  • experiences frost
  • woody base


    • This material may be derived from roughly machine-read images, and so is provided only to facilitate research.
    More information on Chapter Skim is available.