| ISSUE 94: MAY 2025 |  |
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| ISTF2025 is heading to Darwin, Australia! – Abstract submission now open!
The International Tropical Fruits Network (TFNet) and the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, Northern Territory Government, Australia are organizing the ISTF2025 on 23-25 September 2025 (new dates). |
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| TFNet facilitates productive visit of Prof. Dr. Steven Underhill from Sunshine Coast University, Australia to Malaysia | TFNet welcomes the Minor Use Foundation as an Associate Member | ||||
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| TFNet Advisor invited as keynote speaker for FSS2025 | TFNet participates in CABI’s Asia-Pacific Consultation Meeting in Malaysia | ||||
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PUBLICATIONS
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UPCOMING TFNet ACTIVITIES
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FRUIT EVENTS AROUND THE WORLD
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| 2025 International Symposium on Tropical Fruits (ISTF 2025) Date: 23-25 September 2025 Venue: Darwin, Australia (Hybrid: in-person and online)9th TFNet General Assembly and 17th TFNet Board of Trustees Meeting Date: 22 September 2025 Venue: Darwin, Australia (Hybrid: in-person and online) |
XV International Symposium on Plant Bioregulators in Fruit Production Date: 23-26 June 2025 Venue: Chicago, IL, USAXIII International Symposium on Banana: Exploring Banana Diversity for Improved Livelihoods Date: 23-28 August 2026 Venue: Kyoto, Japan |
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| Missed our webinars? You can now watch them in our Youtube channel! | We are looking for contributors to our website and newsletters. Contact us at info@itfnet.org. | ||||
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TROPICAL FRUIT NEWS
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AUSTRALIA: Price hikes and shortages flagged after banana crops ‘cop a flogging’ in north Queensland floods |  |
VIETNAM: Durian loses top export status to dragon fruit, banana on tough import requirements | ||||
| Australians can expect banana shortages and price hikes as the cleanup begins in flood-ravaged north Queensland, which grows almost 94% of Australia’s banana crop, growers say. | Durian is no longer Vietnam’s top fruit export, having fallen below that of dragon fruit and banana in the first two months of 2025 due to strict import requirements. | ||||||
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COLOMBIA: Banana growers aim to boost exports to EU market |  |
UGANDA: IITA and NARO release NARITA 17 banana variety | ||||
| Farmers in Colombia, the world’s fifth-largest banana grower, are looking to boost shipments to the European Union this year on the lucrativeness of shipping to the region. | National Agricultural Research Organization (NARO), in collaboration with the IITA–CGIAR in Uganda, developed the high-yielding, disease-resistant Matooke banana variety NARITA 17. | ||||||
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MALAWI: ‘We need our bananas back’: Traders left in limbo amid spat |  |
NIGERIA: IITA scientists achieve gene editing breakthrough for Banana Wilt Resistance | ||||
| In March, Malawi said it was temporarily banning the import of some farm produce, including bananas, from Tanzania and other countries. | Scientists at IITA-CGIAR have made a major breakthrough in the fight against Banana Xanthomonas Wilt (BXW). | ||||||
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THAILAND: Bumper harvests aren’t bringing tidy profits |  |
BANGLADESH: Mangoes enter China for the first time | ||||
| Mangoes have been selling at Huai Khwang Market for very low prices because of oversupply. | A shipment of three tonnes of fresh mangoes from Bangladesh arrived in Changsha, central China’s Hunan Province, on May 28 night. | ||||||
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NEPAL: Dhangadhi Sub-Metropolis disposes 2,267-kg mango laced with chemical |  |
PHILIPPINES: Sends first commercial shipment of mangoes to Italy | ||||
| Dhangadhi Sub-Metropolis City has disposed 2,267-kg of mango laced with chemicals. | The first commercial export of Philippine mangoes has been delivered to Italy, with a shipment of over half a ton in Rome. | ||||||
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NIGERIA: How pineapple farming can be attractive to youths |  |
SYRIA: Imported pineapple back | ||||
| Pineapple farming can be attractive to young people is for the government to finance young entrepreneurs towards achieving self-sustainability | After decades of poverty and isolation under the Assad dynasty, imported fruits like pineapples, kiwis and mangoes are available again in Syria’s bustling markets, making mouths water and eyes twinkle. | ||||||
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HAITI: Papaya growers hooked on producing the popular fruit despite cultivation struggles |  |
PANAMA: Plans to Increase Papaya Exports to the U.S. and Aruba | ||||
| Papaya is among the most beloved of fruits Haitians consume in beverages and dishes across the country. | Panamanian company maintains a growth projection for its papaya exports to the United States and Aruba. | ||||||
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SOUTH AFRICA: First 2025 avocado shipment to China |  |
AUSTRALIA: India eyed for premium Avocados | ||||
| South Africa has exported the first batch of avocados for the 2025 season to China, marking a significant milestone in the country’s agricultural trade. | With this trend fast catching up, Australia is making a strong bid to penetrate into the premium fruit segment with Australian avocados | ||||||
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MALAYSIA: Cashing in on durian tourism |  |
CAMBODIA: Selling durians to China, vying to rival Thailand, Vietnam and Malaysia | ||||
| Penang’s durian season has begun and the race is on to savour the best fruits. | Cambodia has become the latest Southeast Asian nation to enter the lucrative Chinese durian market. | ||||||
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VIETNAM: Mangosteen sought after despite 50% price gap with Thai fruit |  |
VIETNAM: Southern Fruit Festival celebrates Vietnamese agriculture | ||||
| Vietnamese mangosteen is in high demand despite being 50% more expensive than Thai imports since it is sweeter and more fragrant. | Exciting festivities are underway at the 21st Southern Fruit Festival, at Suoi Tien Theme Park in District 9, Ho Chi Minh City. | ||||||
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RECENT LITERATURE ON TROPICAL FRUIT RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
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| Selection of stable internal control genes for quantitative real-time PCR (RT-qPCR) in banana (Musa spp.) under short-term drought stress Paragas, M.K., et. al. (31 May 2025) Molecular Biology Reports DOIResponse of host Indian Musa germplasm against artificially induced root lesion nematodes (Pratylenchus coffeae) Devi, A.N., et al. (2025) Plant Science Today DOIBiomass waste as a photoprotective agent in the formulation of sunscreen preparation Vioniken, E.I. (31 May 2025) Acta Chimica Asiana DOI |
Optimization of Phenolic Compound Extraction from Pineapple Leaf Fiber: Stability Enhancement and Application in Mango Preservation Liu, Y. et. al. (31 May 2025) Agriculture DOIInnovative coatings of Aloe Vera gel with salicylic acid and melatonin to preserve mango (Mangifera indica L.) fruit quality Morsalpour, et al. (May 2025) BMC Plant Biology DOILeaf Functional Traits Diversity of Mango Wild Relatives (Mangifera spp.) Astina, F. (May 2025) Jurnal Biodjati DOI |
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| Isolation of Endophytic Pseudomonas Strains from Papaya Leaves and Their Extracellular Enzyme Production and Antioxidant Profile Sarjono, P.R. et al. (2025) Jurnal Kimi Valensi DOIIn vitro xanthine oxidase inhibitory and in vivo hypouricemic activity of dual herbal combination comprising Carica papaya L. and Piper lolot C. DC leaves Phan, H.M., et al. (30 May 2025) Journal Medical Research DOIEffect of Papaya Juice on Constipation in Pregnant Women: Quasi-Experimental Study Chairiyah, R., et al. (29 May 2025) Jounral of Nursing and Midwifery Sciences DOI |
Towards mechanized harvesting of pineapples: A masked self-attention instance segmentation network and pineapple detection dataset Zhe, Shan, et al. (2025) Engineering Applications of Artificial Intelligence DOIReinforcement Influence of Pineapple and Cashew Wastes on Concrete’s Structural Properties as Supplementary Materials: A Comprehensive Review Kilani, A.J., et al. (26 May 2025) Civil Engineering and Architechture DOIAn Update on Pineapple Leaf Fibers Liao, S. et. al. (31 May 2025) Journal of Natural Fibers DOI |
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| Nutritional Composition of Hass Avocado (Persea americana Mill) Cultivated in Major Growing Areas in Kenya Ogutu, F., et al. (31 May 2025) International Congress of the Turkish Journal of AgricultureImpact of Avocados on Bee Population Sustainability Funk, A., et al. (May 2025) GenesoStability of Hand Body Gel Formulated with Avocado (Persea americana), Stingless Bee Honey, and Bee Pollen Fauziyah, N., et al. (May 2025) Borneo Journal of Pharmacy DOI |
Cellulose Microfibres from Durian Waste using Modified Steam Explosion as Pre-treatment Zulkifli, A.A., et al. (30 May 2025) Journal of Climate Change DOIEvaluation and selection of superior jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus Lam.) genotypes with small sized fruits Kavino, M. (28 May 2025) Discover PlantsWater transport, vascular bundle integrity, and enzymatic activity in rambutan pericarp and spine browning Guan, H., et al. (2025) Postharvest Biology and Technology DOI |
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