Soursop - Annona muricata

Description and Uses

Annona muricata (Soursop) is a tropical tree from Colombia & Venezuela. It is mainly grown for its fruit crops (short shelflife), but also

can be produced. The crop is harvested by hand picking. It starts flowering after 3 - 5 years. The first yield will be 5 fruits/tree/year but in its top season there will be a yield of 10 to 50 fruits/tree/year.

. Medical uses include;

The fruit contains Anonaine (0.01% - 0.50%). There is A. muricata leaf oil extracted by steam distillation from the tree`s fresh leaf yielding 0.2 - 2% oil. Regarding firewood production the tree`s growing speed is fast, its energetic value is 4300 ckal/kg and the wood`s drying speed is medium; for firewood production it is not ideal. After 50 years the tree can be totally removed as it reached its commercial and ecological goal. Annona muricata has a lifespan of 70 years.

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Environmental limitations

The tree is 9 meters tall. It is fast growing and tolerates not less light than partial shade. Annona muricata has a shallow root-system and forms symbiotic relations

(endo-mycorrhiza). It is not able to fix nitrogen. The tree`s flower-morphology is dioecious and is pollinated by hand. Annona muricata is evergreen and not allelopathic and has no thorns.

Annona muricata thrives in an altitude of 0 to 1400 meters above sea-level (tropical). The minimum temperature is 4°C and optimally between 25 - 34°C. The optimal rainfall is 1800 mm/year. Without irrigation the annual rainfall should be between 800 - 2000 mm (L/m²). The optimal soil-pH is between 5.0 - 6.0 in a soil texture of loam. To salt it is tolerant to wind intolerant and to fire intolerant.

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Pests and Diseases

and

diseases.

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Seed Propagation

Seeds are epigeous and can be stored for 5 months. There are approximative 1068 seeds/kg. Unfortunately propagation instruction is missing.

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