SOURSOP DIVERSITY STATUS IN SOUTHERN REGION OF THAILAND

In Thailand, three Annona species are known as fruit crops; they are sugar apple (Annona squamosa L.), custard apple (A. reticulata L.), soursop (A. muricata L.). Atemoya is a hybrid between A. squamosa × A. cherimola. All of them are not native to Thailand. Sugar apple and atemoya are the most popular for commercial fruit production in Thailand. A survey was conducted during 2004 - 2006 all over Southern region, except three southern-most provinces and Phetchaburi. In the South of Thailand, there are two other related species of soursop. Firstly, mountain soursop (A. montana Macfad.) was found in two collection fields of Trang and Phetchaburi. The other was monkey apple or pond apple (A. glabra L.) found in Satun. This may be their first report in Thailand. So far these two species are underutilized crops. There are no differences in phenotype among soursops.