Abstract
This chapter on mamey sapote (Pouteria sapota), chiku or sapodilla (Manilkara zapota), pitaya or dragon fruit (Hylocereus sp.), acerola (Malpighia emarginata) and naranjilla (Solanum quitoense) from tropical America covers the following: taxonomy, areas of origin and distribution, environmental requirements for cultivation (climate, and soil chemical and physical properties), plant morphology (whole plant, flowers and fruits) and development (pollination, and fruit set, growth and ripening), cultivar development and selection, cultural practices (propagation, field preparation, transplanting and plant spacing, irrigation, pruning, and fertilizer application), diseases and insect pests, weed management, harvesting, postharvest handling, and utilization.