This book is one of a multi-author series describing the wild relatives, and their genomic and breeding resources, of a range of important crop types. The volumes in this series are Millets and Grasses, Temperate Fruits, Oilseeds, Legume Crops and Forages, Cereals, Tropical and Subtropical Fruits, Vegetables, Industrial Crops, Forest Trees, Plantation and Ornamental Crops, and are mostly published in 2011.

Cultivated crops are derived from their wild relatives, which provide a valuable resource for crop improvement and innovation for food, feed and industrial production. This book focuses on the fruit and other products available from wild relatives of tropical and subtropical fruit crops covering their origins, distribution, morphology, cytology and genomics on the basis of their evolution and phylogenetics. The volume contains chapters written by many authoritative contributors covering the genera Actinidia (kiwifruit), Ananas (pineapple), Citrus (orange etc), Mangifera (mango), Morus (mulberry), Musa (banana), Passiflora (passionflower), Persea (avocado), Poncirus (bitter orange; citrus rootstock), Spondias (local common names) and Vasconcellea (highland papaya).

The depth and scope of coverage of these genera varies by chapter, but on the whole is excellent. The quality of the data and references in this review makes it an ideal foundation for students and researchers working to improve the utility of fruit plants. The book also provides a technical insight into the wonderful diversity of these useful plant groups and the potential that exists in local fruit production.