Top 10 fruits facts

174. The cultivated kiwi fruit, Actinidia deliciosa, is a hexaploid species with a total number of 174 chromosomes. Many of cultivated plants are polyploids created by selective breeding, and are usually unable to interbreed with their diploid ancestors.

Wimbledon Trophy. Pineapple sits atop the Wimbledon cup as an outdated symbol of luxury. Back in 17th-century England pineapples were one of the most sought-after commodities, and thus the pineapple achieved a social status.

Cocoa. Immature cocoa pods have a variety of colours, but most often are green, red, or purple, and as they mature, their colour tends towards yellow or orange. Unlike most fruiting trees, the cacao pod grows directly from the trunk or large branch of a tree.

China. As its Latin name suggests, Actinidia Chinensis is a fruit tree and medicinal plant native to China.

Avocado. Guacamole is an avocado-based dip, spread, or salad first developed by the Aztecs in what is now Mexico. In addition to its use in modern Mexican cuisine, it has become part of international and American cuisine as a dip, condiment and salad ingredient.

Dates. Phoenix dactylifera, commonly known as date palm, is a flowering plant species in the palm family, Arecaceae, cultivated for its edible sweet fruit. Although its place of origin is unknown because of long cultivation, it probably originated from the Fertile Crescent region straddling between Egypt and Mesopotamia.

Hydroponics is a subset of hydroculture and is a method of growing plants using mineral nutrient solutions, in water, without soil. Terrestrial plants may be grown with their roots in the mineral nutrient solution only or in an inert medium, such as perlite or gravel.

Durian. Some people regard the durian as having a pleasantly sweet fragrance, whereas others find the aroma overpowering with an unpleasant odour. The smell evokes reactions from deep appreciation to intense disgust, and has been described variously as rotten onions, turpentine, and raw sewage. The persistence of its odour, which may linger for several days, has led to the fruit's banishment from certain hotels and public transportation in southeast Asia.

Quince. The quince is the sole member of the genus Cydonia in the family Rosaceae. It is a deciduous tree that bears a pome fruit, similar in appearance to a pear, and bright golden-yellow when mature. Throughout history the cooked fruit has been used as food, but the tree is also grown for its attractive pale pink blossoms and other ornamental qualities.

The Cherimoya is an edible fruit-bearing species of the genus Annona, which generally is thought to be native to Ecuador, Colombia, Peru and Bolivia. Some characterize the fruit flavor as a blend of banana, pineapple, papaya, peach, and strawberry. Cherimoya seeds, which are inside the fruit, are poisonous if crushed open. It contains 15% of sugar and vitamin C.