Mangosteen & Carambola | Subtropical and Temperate Fruit Production (HOR-MA201) - Unit 5 Notes - Chapter 19 (Minor Fruits)

Subtropical and Temperate Fruit Production

HORMA 201 - M.Sc. (Ag.) Horticulture

UNIT V: Minor fruits- mangosteen, carambola, bael, wood apple, fig, jamun, Rambutan, pomegranate

Table of Contents Commercial varieties of regional, national and international importance, Ecophysiological requirements, recent trends in propagation, rootstock influence, planting systems, cropping systems, root zone and canopy management, nutrient management, water management, fertigation, bioregulation, abiotic factors limiting fruit production, physiology of flowering, fruit set and development, abiotic factors limiting production, physiological disorders-causes and remedies, quality improvement by management practices; maturity indices, harvesting, grading, packing, precooling, storage, transportation and ripening techniques; industrial and export potential, Agri Export Zones(AEZ) and industrial support.

Chapter 19 - MANGOSTEEN & CARAMBOLA

🟣 MANGOSTEEN (Garcinia mangostana L.)

Family: Clusiaceae (formerly Guttiferae)
Origin: Malaysia/Indonesia
Chromosome number: 2n = 48
Common name: Queen of fruits

🔹 1. Commercial Varieties

• No named cultivars; propagated clonally from apomictic seeds

• Selections are based on:

• Size and flavor of arils

• Fewer seeds

• Higher pulp percentage

Growing regions:

• India: Kerala (Pathanamthitta, Kollam), Tamil Nadu (Kanyakumari), Assam

• Global: Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, Vietnam

🔹 2. Ecophysiological Requirements

• Climate: Tropical, humid; rainfall 1500–2500 mm

• Temperature: 25–35°C optimal; <5°C damages plant

• Humidity: >80% ideal

• Soil: Deep, fertile, lateritic or loamy soil with good drainage

• pH: 5.0–6.5

🔹 3. Propagation and Rootstock Influence

• Apomictic seeds (adventive embryony): Common, genetically uniform but slow-growing

• Vegetative methods: Inarching, grafting, tissue culture (slow and less common)

• Rootstock: No distinct use; same species seedlings used

🔹 4. Planting Systems

• Spacing: 8 × 8 m (approx. 150–160 trees/ha)

• Time: Monsoon onset preferred (June–July)

• Pit size: 60 × 60 × 60 cm with FYM, lime, neem cake

🔹 5. Cropping System & Canopy Management

• Grown as a monocrop in orchards

• Shade-loving when young – often interplanted with coconut or banana

• Pruning to remove water shoots and shape canopy

🔹 6. Nutrient Management

• FYM: 20–25 kg/tree/year

• Fertilizers:

• 200 g N, 150 g P₂O₅, 150 g K₂O/tree/year for adults

• Split into two doses: pre-monsoon and post-monsoon

• Micronutrients (Zn, B, Mg) helpful for fruit development

🔹 7. Water Management & Fertigation

• Needs frequent irrigation in dry periods

• Mulching helps retain moisture
  
  

• Drip irrigation is effective, especially in dryland orchards

• Fertigation can be practised in a high-input system

🔹 8. Bioregulation

• Research limited

• Sprays of GA₃ may improve fruit set marginally

• Not widely adopted commercially

🔹 9. Flowering, Fruit Set & Development

• Starts flowering 7–9 years after planting (seedlings)

• Flowering season: February–April

• Fruit set: Usually parthenocarpic or through apomixis

• Fruit development: 5–6 months from flowering to harvest

• Non-climacteric fruit

🔹 10. Abiotic Limiting Factors

Factor	Effect
Low temperature	Leaf drop, delayed growth
Waterlogging	Root rot, fruit drop
Drought	Poor growth and fruit set

🔹 11. Physiological Disorders

Disorder	Cause	Remedy
Latex exudation on fruits	Excessive rainfall or late harvest	Timely harvesting
Poor fruit set	Drought or high temp	Irrigation, microclimate management

🔹 12. Quality Improvement Practices

• Adequate irrigation during fruit set

• Balanced NPK and organic mulching

• Timely harvesting improves flavor and appearance

🔹 13. Maturity Indices, Harvesting, Post-Harvest

• Maturity: Fruit turns deep purple with yellow latex turning clear

• Harvest: Hand-picked with stalk; avoid injury

• Yield: 500–2000 fruits/tree/year (varies with age and care)

• Grading: Based on size and color

• Storage: 10–13°C, RH 90–95% → 20–25 days shelf life

• Packing: CFB boxes, wrapped in tissue

🔹 14. Export & Industrial Use

• Rich in xanthones, antioxidants

• Used in juices, jams, nutraceuticals

• Limited exports from India; more potential if production scales

• Thailand & Indonesia export actively

• No AEZ for mangosteen in India currently

🟡 CARAMBOLA (Averrhoa carambola L.)

Family: Oxalidaceae
Common name: Starfruit
Origin: Southeast Asia (Indonesia, Malaysia)
Chromosome number: 2n = 22

🔹 1. Commercial Varieties (Regional, National & International)

No standardized named varieties, but two broad types are widely recognized:

• Sweet type (low oxalic acid, edible fresh)

• Larger, less acidic, consumed as table fruit

• Sour type (higher acidity)

• Used for pickles, preserves, culinary use

Selections:

• India: Arka Kamala (IIHR, Bengaluru), PKM-1 (TNAU)

• Global: Fwang Tung, B10, Golden Star (Florida), Maha (Malaysia)

🔹 2. Ecophysiological Requirements

• Climate: Tropical and subtropical

• Temperature: 20–35°C optimal

• Frost sensitive

• Rainfall: 1000–1500 mm/year

• Soil: Well-drained sandy loam, loam; pH 5.5–6.5 preferred

• Tolerates acidic soils and moderate salinity

🔹 3. Recent Trends in Propagation & Rootstock Influence

• Propagation:

• Seed: Heterozygous; not recommended

• Vegetative: Softwood grafting, air layering, budding

• Softwood grafting (on 6-month-old seedlings) is preferred for uniformity

• Rootstock:

• No specific rootstock used

• Own-rooted plants or seedling rootstocks from local types

🔹 4. Planting System

• Spacing: 5 × 5 m or 6 × 6 m (278–400 trees/ha)

• Pit size: 60 × 60 × 60 cm with FYM (10–15 kg) and neem cake

• Planting season: June–July (monsoon)

🔹 5. Cropping Systems, Root Zone & Canopy Management

• Cropping system: Grown as sole crop or intercropped with guava, citrus, papaya

• Training: Central leader system in initial years

• Pruning: Regular pruning to maintain shape and remove diseased branches

• Responds well to heading back for canopy control

🔹 6. Nutrient Management

• FYM: 10–15 kg/tree/year

• Fertilizer schedule (per mature tree/year):

• N: 200 g

• P₂O₅: 150 g

• K₂O: 150–200 g

• Micronutrients: Zn, B, Fe (in deficient soils)

• Application: Split into two doses (pre-monsoon & post-monsoon)

🔹 7. Water Management & Fertigation

• Needs regular watering, especially during flowering & fruiting

• Drought leads to fruit drop and poor quality

• Drip irrigation effective for moisture conservation

• Fertigation possible with soluble NPK through drip

🔹 8. Bioregulation

• GA₃ @ 50 ppm: Promotes fruit set

• NAA @ 20–40 ppm: Reduces fruit drop

• Use of ethrel (100 ppm) reported to synchronize flowering

🔹 9. Physiology of Flowering, Fruit Set & Development

• Flowering: Multiple flushes; main bloom in Jan–Feb or July–Aug (varies by region)

• Pollination: Insects, bees help; partial self-incompatibility

• Fruit development: 90–120 days from flowering

• Non-climacteric fruit

🔹 10. Abiotic Factors Limiting Production

Factor	Impact
Low temperature	Flower drop, poor fruit set
Drought	Cracking, fruit drop
Waterlogging	Root rot

🔹 11. Physiological Disorders – Causes & Remedies

Disorder	Cause	Remedy
Fruit cracking	Moisture stress	Mulching, drip irrigation
Browning of ridges	Boron deficiency	Borax spray (0.1%)
Premature fruit drop	Water/nutrient stress	NAA spray, irrigation

🔹 12. Quality Improvement by Management

• Balanced nutrition and irrigation

• Timely pruning and training

• Use of bioregulators like NAA for retention

• Harvest at correct stage for best flavor

🔹 13. Maturity Indices, Harvesting, Post-Harvest Handling

• Maturity: Yellowing of ridges, firm fruit

• Harvesting: Hand-picked; multiple harvests (2–3)

• Yield: 50–100 kg/tree/year

• Grading: Based on size, color, shape

• Storage: 8–10°C, RH 90% → 3–4 weeks shelf life

• Packing: CFB boxes or bamboo baskets lined with paper

• Precooling: 12–15°C for 4–6 hrs post-harvest
  
  

🔹 14. Industrial & Export Potential

• Rich in Vitamin C, antioxidants, oxalic acid

• Used in juices, chutneys, preserves

• Demand in niche markets due to appearance (star shape)

• Export potential to Europe and Gulf nations

• No specific AEZ for carambola in India

• Limited but growing industrial use for processed products

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