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Green-Seeds.com
Fruits
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WHITE SAPOTE
Casimiroa
edulis Llave & Lex
Rutaceae
Common
Names: White Sapote, Sapote, Zapote blanco, Casimiroa.
Related
Species: Woolly-leaf Sapote, Yellow Sapote (C. tetrameria Millsp.).
Matasano, (C. Sapote Oerst.), C. pringlei.
Distant
affinity: Citrus, Bael Fruit (Aegle marmelos Correa), Wampi (Clausena
lansium Skeels), Wood-apple (Feronia limonia Swingle)
Origin:
The white sapote is native to central Mexico. The wooly-leaf sapote is
native from Yucatan to Costa Rica.
Adaptation:
The white sapote is successful wherever oranges can be grown. In California
mature trees are found from Chico, southward. It does poorly in areas
with high summer heat such as the deserts of the Southwest, and in the
high humidity of the tropical lowlands of Hawaii and Florida. Otherwise,
it can take a lot of abuse, but is brittle in wind. Established trees
withstand occasional frost to 22° F., although young trees can be
damaged at 30° F. The tree does best where the mean temperature from
April to October is about 68° F. White sapotes are also tolerant of
cold wet roots and north sides of buildings. Wooly-leaf sapotes are somewhat
less hardy than the common white sapote. Only grafted trees are suitable
for containers; seedlings get large fast.
DESCRIPTION
 Growth Habit: The white
sapote forms a medium to very large evergreen tree, 15 to 50 feet, according
to cultivar and soil. It is deciduous under drought and other stress. The
tree casts a dense shade. Growth is rapid, in flushes. It is densely branching,
drooping at maturity. Young trees tend toward a single, limber stem for
first 2 years often requiring staking. White sapotes have a taproot and
other fibrous roots that are wandering and greedy like citrus.
Foliage: The white sapote
has glossy, bright green, palmately compound, hand-shaped leaves with 5
- 6 inch leaflets on a long petiole. New growth is usually reddish, becoming
dark green with age, pale green beneath. Stress such as either prolonged
cold or abnormal heat, will cause defoliation and a subsequent new growth
flush. Leaves will burn in hot winds, which may also scar the fruit or cause
it to drop.
Flowers: The odorless
flowers, small and greenish-yellow, are 4- or 5-parted, and born in terminal
and axillary panicles. They are hermaphrodite and occasionally unisexual
because of aborted stigmas. They follow growth flush and often rebloom again
several months later. The flowers are attractive to bees, hoverflies and
ants. The pollination tendencies or requirements of various cultivars have
not yet been fully determined.
Fruit: White sapote
fruit ripens six to nine months from bloom. Some cultivars are alternate
bearing. Fruit size varies from 1 inch to 6 inches for some of the newer
cultivars. Fruit color ranges from apple-green to orange-yellow at maturity,
according to cultivar. The fruit shape is round, oval or ovoid, symmetrical
or irregular. The skin is very thin and smooth, with a waxy bloom, and is
sometimes bitter. Green-skinned varieties have white flesh; yellow skinned
varieties have yellow flesh. The flesh has a custard-like texture and a
sweet delicious flavor reminiscent of peach or banana, although sometimes
with a hint of bitterness. The fruit becomes pungent and unpleasant if overripe.
In California the flesh of the wooly-leaf sapote is often bitter and unpleasant.
The fruit contains 5 - 7 short-lived seeds thaat resemble a greatly enlarged
orange seed. They range in size from 1 - 2 inches in length. The fruits
also usually contain several aborted, thin, papery seeds. White sapotes
bear within 10 years from seed, or 2 - 8 years from graft.
CULTURE
Location: Before planting,
consider the mess made by unpicked fruit. Planting over a patio can be a
big mistake. The ultimate size of the the tree should also be kept in mind.
They prefer full sun.
Soils: White sapotes
prefer a well-drained soil with a pH between 5.5 and 7.5, but the tree will
grow in almost any soil as long as it is well-drained.
Irrigation: White sapote
trees are drought tolerant but produce better fruit with regular, deep watering.
Deep watering is also necessary to keep greedy roots deep in the ground.
Shallow watering can encourage surface roots that will break pavement or
ruin lawns. Drip irrigation is suitable for young trees. They will tolerate
some salts, but gradually decline. White sapotes are often most productive
following wet winters.
Fertilization: Fertilizer
formulas should vary with the nature of the soil, but, in general, the grower
is advised to follow procedures suitable for citrus trees. Many white sapote
trees have received little or no care and yet have been long-lived.
Pruning: Young trees
tend to grow vertically without much branching. After planting, remove the
flowers and pinch out the terminal bud to encourage branching. Since branches
are brittle in wind, and will often break at crotches that are either too
narrow or horizontal, it is important to prune to eliminate such weak joints.
Too much pruning or heading-back, however, may encourage weak growth.
Propagation: Seedlings
generally produce inferior fruit, but there is always a chance of producing
a worthwhile new cultivar. Use fresh seed, washed and cleaned of flesh.
Budding is done in the spring, if possible, on year-old seedlings. Trees
are usually grafted., using stocks grown in place for three years. Scions
should be girdled 1 to 2 months, then stored until the first sign of new
stock growth in spring. Cleft, splice, or approach grafts are all successful.
Seedling trees usually begin to bear in 7 - 8 years; grafted trees will
start bearing in 3 or 4 years.
Pests and diseases:
The white sapote has few natural enemies but the fruits of some cultivars
are attacked by fruit flies where that is a problem. Black scale often occurs
on nursery stock and occasionally on mature trees in California. Mealybugs
are sometimes found around fruit stems, and aphids can infest new growth.
The trees also attract fruit-eating animals, including parrots. White sapotes
are resistant to both Phytophthora and Armillaria. Snails
can defoliate young trees and damage fruit. Control by keeping weeds away
and applying bait.
Harvest: White sapote
fruit ripens in October (south) to February (north). A few cultivars will
have fruit year-round, but the fruit from later blooms generally ripens
poorly and is of poorer quality. Large trees commonly produce a ton of fruit
per year. The fruits taste best when tree ripened, but tend to fall first.
The fruits must be handled with care even when unripe as they bruise so
easily and any bruised skin will blacken and the flesh beneath turns bitter.
Mature fruits should be clipped from the branches leaving a short piece
of the stem attached. This stub will fall off when the fruits become eating-ripe.
Some cultivars will ripen to good flavor when picked hard and kept in a
controlled atmosphere, while others become bitter and inedible. Fruits that
have ripened on hand will keep in good conditions in the home refrigerator
for at least 2 weeks.
The fruit is said to
be soporific and have an effect upon the central nervous system, hence the
name Matasano, but it is pleasing and wholesome. It is very high in carbohydrates
and low in acids. A 1922 analysis of flesh by the University of California
found: 72.64% water, 0.44% ash, 0.64% protein, 20.64% total sugars (8.44%
invert, 12.20% sucrose), 0.46% fat, 1.26% fiber,and 3.92% starches, etc.
At 30 mg per 100 g of fresh pulp, the fruit is a moderately good source
of vitamin C.
Commercial potential:
The white sapote is an old California fruit and is liked by most people
who taste it. Its best markets are local stands and luxury or health food
stores. Chain stores require a steady source of round, non-bitter fruit,
packed in a single layer. Seasonal production can be avoided by selecting
cultivars that give year-round harvest. The fruit must be picked hard mature
with minimal handling.
CULTIVARS
- Origin Vista, Calif. Wesley C. Chestnut, 1935. Seedling of
Suebelle. Tree large, heavy production, fruit has withstood shipping
to eastern states. Spherical, yellow-green when ripe, taste good, skin
bitter. Alternate bearing.
-
Cuccio
- Origin Fallbrook, Calif. Cuccio, 1973. Probable syn. Florida.
Very quick to come into bearing. Green when ripe, taste excellent, keeps
long and well on tree. Fruit sunburns if tree defoliates.
-
Ecke
- Origin Encinitas, Calif., Paul Ecke, Sr., 1963. Single fruits,uniform
in size and shape, Skin becomes bright yellow several months before
maturity.
-
Fiesta
- Origin Yorba Linda, Calif., Ray Vincent, 1973. Reliable,productive
but very late cropper of rather small (1-2 inch) fruit. Pale yellow,
thick skin, endures handling.
-
Lemon Gold
- Origin Escondido, Calif., Martin Reinecke, 1958. A less vigorous
tree, moderate crops, usually in November. Keeps well when ripe, can
be picked immature and ripens well off the tree. Uniform, pleasing appearance;
flesh quite yellow. Flavor excellent, occasional hints of lemon.
-
Louise
- Origin Chula Vista, Calif., Bill Nelson, 1973. Nearly everbearing,
Jan. - Sept., productive. Fruit yellow, medium size. Suggested for home
gardens, not commercial.
-
Malibu No. 3
- Origin Malibu, Calif., Washington MacIntyre, 1981. Fruit spherical,
yellow, ripens Oct - Nov. Pick when soft. Tree is long coming into bearing.
Most promising new cv.
-
Maltby
- Origin Carlsbad, Calif., Guy Maltby, 1928. syn. Nancy Maltby.
Frequently found in Florida, obsolete in California. Tree large. Fruit
to one pound, irregular in shape, pointed, flesh yellow, flavor varies
by season, can be good. Productive.
-
McDill
- Origin Orange, Calif., McDill, 1968. Precocious, excellent
taste, among the largest. Shape oblate, large, greenish-yellow. Bears
early autumn. Tree large, grafts easy.
-
Michele
- Origin Pasadena, Calif., Michele Montllor, 1940. Tree small,
nearly everbearing. Fruit smallish, yellow, with distinct taste of caramel.
For home culture.
-
Pike
- Origin Santa Barbara, Calif., intro. USDA, 1928. Tree med.
size, heavy cropper, mid-season, Large green fruits. One of three most
popular cultivars of the mid-century, is still found commercially. Taste
fairly good, skin bitter.
-
Reinecke Commercial
- Origin San Diego, Calif., John M. Reinecke. Fruit irregular
in shape, weighing about 5 ounces. Skin attractive golden-orange when
ripe. Flavor good, seeds moderate in number. Has excellent keeping qualities,
and even if picked prematurely will soften and become fairly good eating.
Tree is a relatively poor yielder.
-
Stickley
- Origin La Mesa, Calif., Stickley 1967. Seedling of Vernon,less
alternate in bearing. Broad vigorous tree. Fruit yellow-green, quite
sweet, uniformly large. Ripens very early, sweet even if harvested immature.
Keeps well when soft.
-
Suebelle
- Origin Encinitas, Calif., Susan Hubbell, 1931. Syn. Hubbell.
The best known cv of sapote, still not surpassed in performance by others;
common in nurseries. A distinct cv., Neysa was commonly sold as Suebelle
from 1955-65. True Suebelle fruit is variable in size, usually small,
yellow, asymmetrical, sweet. Pick when soft. Bears nearly year-round.
Tree medium, for home culture.
-
Vernon
- Origin Vista, Calif., Wells Miller, 1953. A mature tree found
by him and may prove to be another, older cv. Tree large, rounded, vigorous
but medium height. Fruit green, round oblate; flesh white, not becoming
bitter when over-ripe. Alternate bearing, over the winter months. Performs
well in northern California. Difficult to graft.
-
Wilson
- Origin Monrovia, Calif., W. C. Wilson, 1927. Introduced then
by Armstrong Nurseries and still found in collections. Tree productive,
fruit flattened, flavor good, poor keeper.
-
Mac's Golden
- Origin Carlsbad, Calif., Charles Ramsey, 1932 A wooly-leaf sapote
(C. tetrameria). Fruit large, yellow with deeper-colored flesh.
The best, and least yellow, of the matasanos, preferred by some, with
characteristic aroma. Elongated oval, few seeds.
© Copyright 1996, California Rare Fruits Growers
Questions
or comments? Contact
us.
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Tel: +84 (8) 847 6901 - Fax: +84 (8) 844 1392 - Email: info@green-seeds.com
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