Ecophysiology of tropical tree crops: an introduction

in this special issue, ecophysiology of major tropical tree crops, considered here on a broader sense and including species such as banana, cashew, cassava, citrus, cocoa, coconut, coffee, mango, papaya, rubber, and tea, are examined. for most of these crops, photosynthesis is treated as a central process affecting growth and crop performance. the crop physiological responses to environmental factors such as water availability and temperature are highlighted. several gaps in our database concerning ecophysiology of tropical tree crops are indicated, major advances are examined, and needs of further researches are delineated.