Family: Annonaceae
Common name: Soursop, Graviola, Guyabano, Paw-paw, Sirsak, Prickly Custard Apple, Guanabana, Durian Belanda
Soursop is a very popular fruit tree that is renowned among gardeners for its cancer-healing properties, though there is no scientific evidence for the same. They are native to the tropical regions of Central and South America, but these trees can be grown in most tropical countries.
Tree Characteristics
Soursops are small trees that only grow to a height of 8-10 meters, with an erect trunk and well-branched crown. The trunk is rough and dark-brown, growing straight for 2-3 meters before it starts branching.
Leaves are long, lance-shaped, dark green, and smooth with a glossy finish. They are 10-15 cm long, hairless, with a smooth margin, emitting a strong aroma when crushed. Soupsoup leaves grow very thick on the tree, giving it a bushy appearance.
Soursop flowers are quite unique, but not very noticeable because of their greenish-yellow color. These flowers may be borne singly or in small clusters of 2-3. Petals are quite thick, the outer 3 petals meeting at the base without overlapping.
The bases of the outer petals are roughly heart-shaped, and the tips are pointy. Inner petals are oval in shape and overlap with each other. Flowers are 3-4 cm long, pendulous, hanging downwards from the stalk like a small chandelier. The center of the flower has small, wedge-shaped, yellow stamens.
Soursop trees are mostly grown for their fruits, which are very unique creations. They are large, bulbous, elongated oval, and covered with small spiky protrusions. These fruits are 20-30 cm long and can weigh 4-6 kg.
These fruits have a thick, leathery skin that is mostly green, but turns greenish-yellow when the fruits ripen. The flesh inside is white with a creamy texture, and contains numerous black seeds that are not edible.
The taste is quite sour, as the name Soursop says, and the taste is a combination of strawberry and apple, with a distinct tart flavor.
Gardening Tips
Soursop trees prefer good sunlight and the warm, moist weather typical of tropical countries. They are very sensitive to frost, and this can result in the fruits and leaves dying prematurely.
While planting Soursops, choose a sunny location and well-draining soil. Young plants need to be watered and fertilized regularly till they reach 2-3 meters in height, after which they can pretty much be left alone. Pruning can be done to keep the tree rounded and bushy.
Fertilizing occasionally with vermicompost, animal dung, bonemeal, NPK, etc. can result in a good yield, especially in commercial contexts. Soursops are reasonably resistant to pest infections.
Uses of Soursop
Flesh of the Soursop fruit is eaten raw, or made into milkshakes and smoothies. Fruits are also used to make juices, candies, and sorbets. Young leaves are used for making tea, cooked and eaten as vegetable, and also used for tenderizing meat.
These trees, especially the fruits have been used in traditional herbal medicines for hundreds of years in the treatment of fever, inflammation, pain, dysentry, bleeding, cold, chest pain, malaria, stomach ailments, parasitic infections, worms, headache, high blood pressure, heart problems, and a variety of common ailments.
They are popular for their cancer-healing properties, though there is no scientific evidence to the same, and multiple medical bodies have warned people that they should not believe in false claims.
Parts of the plant are used in making insectides, also for killing lice and bedbugs. Wood of the tree is light and not very durable. Hence, they are mostly used as firewood, and not in any construction or woodwork.
Propagation
Propagation is through seeds, stem cuttings, and grafting.
Seeds extracted from ripe fruits can be cleaned and planted immediately in moist soil to germinate in 2-3 weeks. They are fast-growing plants that can reach maturity in 2-3 years.
Grafting involves placing a healthy piece of stem on a healthy rootstock, commonly used to combine desirable traits from multiple plants.
Photographed at: GKVK University of Agriculture, Bangalore
