Scientific Name– Annona muricata

Synonim– Annona bonplandiana, Annona muricata var. boriaquensis, Guanabamus muricatus, Annona cearensis, Annona macrocarpa.

Common name(s)– saua sap, zuurzak, durian blanda, atti, guayabano; corossol (Franta); Sauersack (Germania); nangka (Indonezia), coracao de rainha, graviola (Portugalia).

Distribution and Habitat– originates from tropical America (Argentina, Bahamas, Grenada, Guatmala, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Jamaica, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Puerto Rico, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Uruguay, Venezuela, Virgin Islands, Zanzibar).  

Description– evergreen tree, 6-10 m high. Trunk straight; bark smooth, gray or gray-brown, fissured with age; crown spherical; branches at first ascending, later spreading; stalk brown or grey, with small lenticels. Leaves alternate, 7-15 cm long, obovate-elliptic, glossy on top, the bottom glabrous; stipules absent; petiole short, 3.10 mm long. Flower terminal or lateral; stalks stout, green, 1.3-1.9 cm long, 3 sepals, small, 3 mm long, triangular; 6 petals yellowish-green, outer petals are wide, ovate-acute, cordate with peak acute, 4-5 x 3 -4 cm, the inner petals, narrow, small, 3.8 cm long, thinner, rounded, concave. Fruit 14-40 x 10-18 cm, ovoid, dark green skin with thorns meat white pulp, fibrous and juicy, seeds shiny, dark brown or black, oblong, 2 x 0.7 cm. 

Growth rate– fast, starting with the 3rd year.

Tolerances– drought tolerate short periods, long periods of drought cause premature loss of leaves. 

Requirements– rich soils, pH 5.5-6.5, moist but well drained, partially-shaded. Temperatures of 25-30 ° C. 

Management– require regular watering and fertilizing weekly (10% phosphoric acid, 10% potassium and 3% nitrogen). Mulcing necessary to protect the root system. 

Propagation– the seeds germinate in 15-30 days. 

By cuttings or grafting, the rootstock can be used Annona reticulata and Annona montana. Juveniles when they can replant 30-50 cm high, are planted in 60-80 cm between rows and between plants in row 150. 

Pest and Diseases– Bephata maculicollis, Ceconata annonella, Talponia backeri, Thecla ortygnus, Coleoptera sp., Diptera sp., Lepidoptera sp., Colletotrichum gloeosporioides.

Garden Partners–

Cultivars–

Properties and Uses– The fruit is a good source of vitamins B (0.07 mg/100g) and C (20 mg/100 g) and a poor to fair source of calcium and phosphorus. 

Curiosity–

Bibliography

Ivan A. Ross – Medicinal Plants of the World – Humana Press, 2003

S. D. Doijode – Seed Storage of Horticultural Crops – CRC Press, 2001

T. Kent Kirk – Tropical Trees of Florida and the Virgin Islands – pineapple Press, 2009