Kentucky pawpaw - Asimina triloba

Description and Uses

Asimina triloba (Kentucky pawpaw) is a temperate tree from Eastern North America. It is mainly grown for its fruit crops (short shelflife), but also Other uses include; fruit, ornamental and repellent pesticide can be produced. The crop is harvested by hand picking. It starts flowering after 7 - 9 years. The first yield will be 10 kg/tree but in its top season there will be a yield of 30 kg/tree. The fruit is edible. Medical uses include; there are no known medical uses. The bark contains Asimicin (12.94 - 14.55 ppm). The tree`s wood is called pawpaw wood and has a density of 400 - 560 kg/m³. Regarding firewood production the tree`s growing speed is medium, its energetic value is 4200 ckal/kg and the wood`s drying speed is slow; for firewood production it is not ideal. After 25 years the tree can be totally removed as it reached its commercial and ecological goal. Asimina triloba has a lifespan of 45 years.

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Environmental limitations

The tree is 9 meters tall. It is medium growing and tolerates not less light than shade tolerant. Asimina triloba has a deep root-system and forms symbiotic relations it has symbiotic associations with the Glomus intraradices fungus. (endo-mycorrhiza). It is not able to fix nitrogen. The tree`s flower-morphology is polygamomonoecious and is pollinated by insects. Asimina triloba is deciduous in winter and not allelopathic and has no thorns.

Asimina triloba thrives in an altitude of 0 to 1200 meters above sea-level (temperate). The minimum temperature is -20°C and optimally between 8 - 20°C. The optimal rainfall is 1550 mm/year. Without irrigation the annual rainfall should be between 700 - 1700 mm (L/m²). The optimal soil-pH is between 6.0 - 7.0 in a soil texture of sand. To salt it is intolerant to wind intolerant and to fire intolerant.

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Pests and Diseases

Eurytides marcellus,Omphalocera munroei,Parasa indetermina and to Leaf spot as disease diseases.

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Seed Propagation

Seeds are stratificant and can be stored for 4 months. There are approximative 1500 seeds/kg. The seeds can be propagated as followed: (1) Keep seeds in water between 20-27 C, (2) Soak the seeds overnight in warm water before sowing., (3) press the seeds twice its size in the soil soil.

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