North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

[nottke1 <nottke1@earthlink.net>]

Anton,
Your proposition presumes that other animals favor the flavors that we do.  
Based on what I see some of them eat, I don't think that is true - your last 
sentence alludes to that.
Happy New Year to you.
Jim

-----Original Message-----
>From: Anton Callaway <marillen@earthlink.net>
>Sent: Dec 31, 2008 7:37 AM
>To: NAFEX <nafex@lists.ibiblio.org>
>Subject: [NAFEX] pawpaw flavors
>
>It is interesting that several people on this list have observed a 
>relatively high rate of acceptable flavor from wild-grown pawpaw fruit (from 
>seedling trees).
>
>I have wondered before if the biology of the pawpaw might contribute to this 
>high incidence of decent or better quality fruit.  Pawpaw seed don't survive 
>if the fruit is allowed to ferment.  Fermentation would happen if the fruit 
>were not consumed after ripening.  The pawpaw is dependent on relatively 
>large mammals to distribute their seed.  This combination would set up a 
>situation whereby yucky fruit would be passed over for the tasty and so, 
>over time, those pawpaws bearing tasty fruit would be better fit to multiply.
>
>Maybe it's all too neat, but I thought I'd throw it out for discussion.  It 
>also raises the interesting question of, What, if any, healthful (medicinal) 
>compounds might be enriched in pawpaw fruit that are consumed by wild 
>animals, but don't taste very good?
>
>Happy New Year, NAFEX!
>
>Anton
>Zone 8


Jim Nottke
Pfafftown, NC