The starchy tubers of the perennial potato (Solanum tuberosum, Solanaceae) are the world's fourth largest food crop. While high temperatures inhibit tuber formation under long-day conditions in temperate climates, tuber formation is independant from temperature under short photoperiods in tropical climates. Since potato is affected by by a wide range of bacterial and viral diseases, disease-resistant and virus-free seed potatoes are produced in dedicated propagation areas. We provide information about the numerous aspects of production of potato including cultivation, pests and diseases, harvest, postharvest, and storage.

As the most widely grown crop in the Americas, worldwide production of maize (Zea mays, Poaceae) equals that of rice. A majority of the commercially grown varieties of the cold-intolerant, shallow-rooted C4 cereal grain are standardized, 2.5-m tall hybrids. We provide information about the numerous aspects of production of maize (corn) including cultivation, pests and diseases, harvest, and storage.

Due to their absolute requirement for the Cl- anion, the coconut palm (Cocos nucifera, Arecaceae) naturally occurs along coastlines and can be cultivated in saline areas throughout the tropics. The fruits and plants have many culinary and non-culinary uses including coconut water; coconut meat, milk, oil and copra from the endosperm; coir (fiber) from the husk; and palm hearts, palm wood and palm wine from the trunk. We provide information about the numerous aspects of production of coconut including cultivation, pests and diseases, harvest, postharvest and storage.

Native to Central America, cassava or manioc (Manihot esculenta, Euphorbiaceae) ranks third in the production of carbohydrates for humans in the world. Depending on their concentration of cyanogenic glucosides which are converted to cyanide in the presence of the enzyme linamarase, cassava cultivars are categorized as either "sweet" or "bitter". We provide information about the numerous aspects of production of cassava including cultivation, pests and diseases, harvest, postharvest, and storage.

After maize, rice and wheat, barley (Hordeum vulgare, Poaceae) ranks fourth in production quantity and in cultivation area of cereal crops in the world. Besides for malting and for animal feed the cereal is cultivated for human consumption in many (sub-)tropical regions. Due to its short cultivation period, resistance to heat, cold, drought and high soil salt contents, barley is superiour to wheat in many extreme agro-environments. We provide information about the numerous aspects of production of barley including cultivation, pests and diseases, harvest, and storage.