We have heard stories of extinct animals such as dinosaurs, but surprisingly even fruits can become extinct. Fruits are becoming extinct, and it has been prevalent as monoculture gained popularity in food production.
Human activities leading to the extinction of fruits
According to experts, a certain percentage of plants and fruits existed a century back but are no more. Therefore, according to experts, the extinction of plants and fruits could pose a risk to the ecosystem. This could be due to the decline in cross-pollination and the emergence of stronger varieties such as grapefruit. For instance, when grapefruits become extinct, animals that depend on the plant will be left vulnerable.
Climate change plays a significant role in habitat change leading to the extinction of some plants. Besides climate change, human activities such as deforestation have also affected extinct fruits and plants.
Five examples of extinct fruits
One popular fruit that has grown extinct is the ansault pear which is famous for its delicious aroma and buttery flavor. The fruit vanished at the start of the 20th century because of complicated cultivation. Their trees became irregular and failed to produce edible fruits.
The Madagascar banana or wild banana has not vanished, but the fruit is among the endangered plant species that are at risk of extinction. It’s related to the Cavendish banana, popular across the Us and the UK.
Equally, the prinus murrayana or Murray plum, which was endemic to the Texan region in the US, has been extinct since the late 1920s. The current classification of the fruit classifies it as “critically endangered,” but according to a recent study, it is extinct.
When talking of mangoes, the Kalimantan Mango (Mangifera casturi) is the most recent species. The fruit endemic to the Kalimantan region in Borneo vanished in the late 1990s. Human activities led to the extinction of the mango.
Taliaferro Apple, popular for cider production, has also not been seen in recent times. This is because the fruit never hit commercial markets and moved from original orchards.
