November 08, 2024 | Agriculture |
This review study conducted by Tamil Nadu Agricultural University examines the growing impacts of climate change on tropical fruit production and the associated risks to global food and nutritional security. Tropical fruit crops such as mango, banana, passion fruit, custard apple, and papaya are particularly sensitive to climatic variability, including shifts in monsoon patterns and rising temperatures. Despite their economic and nutritional importance, crop-specific and regionally focused assessments of climate impacts on these fruits remain limited.
The review synthesizes current knowledge on how major abiotic factors, including temperature, rainfall, humidity, wind speed, evaporation, and atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration, interact with biotic stresses such as pests and pathogens to influence tropical fruit production systems. These interacting factors affect key physiological and phenological processes, including flowering, pollination, fruit set, yield formation, and fruit quality. The study highlights that elevated temperatures and altered rainfall regimes can disrupt crop phenology, while changing climatic conditions may also intensify pest and disease pressure.
The findings emphasize existing knowledge gaps, particularly regarding long-term climate effects, greenhouse gas interactions, and crop-specific responses across different agroclimatic regions. The review concludes that improved understanding of these interactions is essential for developing effective adaptation strategies, technological innovations, and policy interventions to reduce climate-related risks and support the sustainability of tropical fruit production systems.
