1 MANGOSTEEN PRODUCTION Benjamin A. Araño Mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana L) is regarded by many as one of the best-flavored in the world. It is one of the tropical fruits where taste is much like other known fruits and is easily accepted by the consumers in Western markets. It is indigenous to the Malay Archipelago and its cultivation extent throughout Southeast Asia. Small and commercial orchard have been established in these countries Thailand, Burma, Malaysia, Philippines, Indonesia and Sri Lanka. Other introduction led to small production in Australia, Cuba, Honduras, Domican, Jamaica and Panama. In 2000, the area planted in the Philippines to mangosteen was estimated 1,354 hectares (DA-AMAS,2004). Important producing areas are in Sulu archipelago and several provinces in Mindanao, namely Zamboanga del Norte, Davao del Norte, Misamis Occidental, Davao City and Agusan Del Sur. The fruit is mainly consumed fresh and can be canned, frozen or processed in to jam, sweetened preserved, syrup and candy. This fruit is sometimes referred to as the “ Queen of Fruits” due to its nutritive value and the presence of some compounds that offer various mangosteen health benefits (altmedicine.about.com/od/completeazindex/mangosteen.html). The primary active components of the mangosteen fruit are called xanthones which have several benefits including anti- inflammatory properties, anti-allergic and anti- convulants. In the Philippines. people used to make a decoction of mangosteen leaves, bark and rind which was beneficial in bringing down body temperature and also to treat dysentery, diarrhea and urinary disorders (www.engineeredililifestyle.org/mangosteen.html). The rind is reported to contain 7-15 % tannin and is used to tan leather and to dye fabric black. It is also reported used as an ingredient in soap, shampoo and conditioner. 2 Table 1. Nutritional components of the fruit/100 g edible portion (SMIARC, 2004) Components Nutritional Value Moisture (%) 79.7 Energy (calories) 34.0 Protein (g) 0.6 Fat (g) 1.0 Carbohydrates (g) 5.6 Fibre (g) 5.1 Ash (g) 0.1 Calcium (mg) 7.0 Magnesium (mg) 13.0 Phosphorous (mg) 13.0 Sodium (mg) 7.0 Potassium (mg) 45.0 Iron (g) 1.0 Vitamin B1(g) 0.03 Vitamin B2 (g) 0.03 Niacin (g) 0.3 Ascorbic Acid ( g) 4.2 The author to provide production stats of the crop Agro-Climatic Requirements Mangosteen prefers deep, fertile, well-drained and slightly acidic clay loam rich in organic matter. It is not adapted to limestone soils, sandy alluvial soil or sandy soil low in humus. The plants grow well in soils with a high pH of 5.5--6.8. The tree is adapted to heavy and well distributed rainfall of 1,200 mm or more without prolonged dry periods. However, the plant require a short dry spell of 15-30 days for flower induction. The optimum temperature is 25-35 C and relative humidity (RH) over 80%. Mangosteen is associated with areas of low elevation i.e less than 500 metes above sea level. It can be cultivated a higher elevation but has a slower growth rate. VARIETY 3 The seed of mangosteen is apomictic and the plant developed from it carries the same characteristics of the mother plant.which explains of only one variety. It may be grown from seeds or asexually through grafting. Normally, large (> 1 gram in weight) plump and fully-developed seeds are choose for planting. Large seeds are associated with higher viability and survival rates. The National Seed Industry Council (NSIC) registered two varieties of mangosteen. These are: UPLB Sweet of Los Baños, Laguna and Roxas Purple of Caluan, Laguna. Table 2. Characteristics of NSIC registered varieties of mangosteen. Varietal Description UPLB Sweet Roxas Purple Tree Age ( years after planting) 55 19 Height (m) 4 7 Growth habit Semi-spreading Semi-spreading Regularity of Bearing Biennial Annual Harvest seasons July-August July-August Yield 1148 Other Characteristics Early Fruiting Whole Fruit Size Weight (in grams) 87.0 65.6 Length (mm) 48.6 53.2 Width (mm) 57.0 49.2 Shape Ovate Oblong Peel Color Purple Purple Texture Smooth Smooth Thickness (cm) 7.5 6.4 Weight 61 g 46.1 Flesh Color Snowy White Snowy White Texture Smooth Smooth Juiciness Juicy Moderate Aroma Mild Mild Flavor Sweet Sub-acid to sweet Edible Portion 29% 27.2% Total Soluble Solids 18.65*Brix - Titratable acidity 9 - Seed Number 1 1.1 Size Weight (g) Total weight 8.73g 4 Individual weight 0.87g 1.3 Length (mm) 1.58 2.03 Width (mm) 1.25 1.29 Thickness (mm) 0.69 - Shape Flat Flat Other features of the variety : Sweet, High percentage Prolific , sub-acid to (>25%) of fruits is seed-less; sweet and high other fruits have only 1 or 2 percentage of edible small seeds and high portion percentage edible portion PREPARATION OF PLANTING MATERIALS 1. Extract seeds from fully ripe fruits. Seeds of more than 1 gram are to be selected for good germination. 2. Newly extracted seeds must be sown right away to obtain high percent germination. 3. Sowing is usually in a seedbed. A typical seedbed may be of wood or cement and the sowing medium is a mixture of sand and soil in 3:1 ratio by volume. The sowing medium needs to be moisture-retentive but well drained. 4. Seeds are planted 5-10 mm in depth and spaced 2-3 cm. apart are covered with fine sand. Seeds will germinate more or less 30 days after sowing. 5. Seedlings are pricked to the polyethylene bags using same mixture as germination media while the cotyledon are still attached to the seedlings. 6. Water the seedlings regularly after pricking. 7. Seedlings are ready for field planting in 24-36 months to minimize maintenance expense in the field as young seedlings require utmost care. Asexual Propagation Cleft grafting is widely used methods of asexual propagation. A healthy shoot is taken as the scion from a selected mother plant still in active growth and is then inserted into a healthy rootstocks. 5 Healthy rootstocks of about 30-35 cm. in height and are usually obtained from selected plants with consistent fruit size and heavy bearing. These rootstocks are selected from plants which are propagated from seedlings and which are about 2 years of age. At this stage, the stem diameter of the rootstocks should be about the same size as that of scions (1.6-2.0 cm.), so that cambium tissue of each can match closely. Step in cleft grafting: 1. A two years old rootstock is chosen from seedling propagated from seeds. 2. The shoot is cut off and a vertical cut 2.0 – 2.5 cm. is made down the middle of the stub to make a V-shaped opening for the scion. 3. A scion (about 6-12 cm) is obtained from another plant with stem size approximately matching that of the rootstock. 4. The basal end of the scion is cut into the gently sloping wedge about 2 cm. long. 5. The scion is inserted onto the opening of the rootstocks. 6. The completed graft is then wrapped with grafting tape and cover with ice candy wrapper. Can the author provide illustration? ESTABLISHMENT IN THE FIELD 1. New land clearing can be done by underbrushing / removal of large plants together with their roots. Plowing followed by harrowing/rotavation is sufficient to attain the desired tilth. High rate of organic matter in the soil are recommended. Organic matter may be incorporated into the planting sites 1-2 months prior to planting. 2. Stakes at a distance of 10 – 8 meters between rows and between hills. Planting holes are dig with a minimum size of 12x12x12” and organic matter may be incorporated 1-2 kg one to two months prior to planting. Wooden sticks are used to support the seedling in the initial stage. 6 3. Field planting should be done anytime of the year if water source is available. However, the best time for planting at the onset of the rainy season. Provide shade to the newly transplanted seedlings. Shade is maintained 1-2 years and this is gradually reduced to allow full sun exposure. 4. Slow growth makes the seedlings vulnerable and they can be quickly overtake by weeds, hence weeding is necessary. Irrigate and mulch the seedlings with coconut husk or grasses to conserve moisture during dry period. Intercropping with short duration crop such as banana to provide shade to mangosteen seedlings. MAINTENANCE OF THE ORCHARD Mangosteen trees pass through a juvenile phase which can last anything up to 12-20 years, although good husbandry result in trees fruiting at 5-7 years after planting. 1. Pruning For non-bearing trees, no pruning is needed except to remove broken or dead branches. For mangosteen plants which are about 8 years or more, small inner branches are pruned from old, unproductive plants to stimulate bearing. 2. Fertilization Application of a nitrogenous fertilizer produces faster vegetative growth of the plants. Fertilizer can be applied in a ring around the base at the edge of the canopy. Application of foliar fertilizer is needed and may be applied singly or mixed with pesticide materials to save on labor cost. The following rates of application for mangosteen is shown in Table 3. Table 3. The following rate of application for Mangosteen are recommended (ATI-FTC, Tupi, South Cotabato) Age of Kg. Tree/Year of Commercial Fertilizer Trees 45-0-0 14-14-14 0-0-60 (years) 7 1 0.22 0.35 - 2 0.44 0.70 - 3 0.56 1.40 - 4 - 2.80 - 5 - 3.60 - 6 - 4.20 0.30 7 - 5.70 0.30 8 - 7.10 0.30 9 above - 8.50 0.50 The rate increases as the size of the tree increases.