Monday, February 6, 2012

SOURSOP TREE (MULLEN CHAKKA)






INTRODUCTION TO LESSER KNOWN
VEGETABLES AND FRUIT SPECIES OF KERALA
                                  VOL.7



Soursop tree
Common Name:-
                       

Soursop
Graviola,
Brazilian paw paw.


Malayalam:
Mullenchakka,
Mullatha.

Kannada:
Mulluramphal.

Telugu:
Lakshmanaphalamu.

Tamil:
Pulippalla,

Mulluchitta.

Botanic Name:


Anona muricata Linn.

Family:
Anonaceae.


             Soursop tree comes under the family of Custard apple and its fruits  are slightly acidic taste hence it is called as soursop.



 It is native to West Indies and now widely cultivated throughout the world.It is a miraculous evergreen tree found in most of the rainforest areas. This is a small tree  grow up to 5-6 meters high with simple leaves having glossy dark green colour.

Leaves of the Sousop tree

In third or fourth year flowers arises in tips of the branches later it arises in main stems and main branches. Flowers of the sour sop trees are with thick petals, greenish yellow in colour and heart shaped.
Flower of the Soursop tree.




Fruits 20-25cm length, with abundant prickles or bristles, containing numerous long brown colored seeds embedded in the whitish pulp and has a weight of up to 2 Kg.   


  Roots,bark and tender fruits  of Sour-sop tree is slightly Toxic .                                 Its seed is used as a fish poison and  as a pesticide.  


              
Nutritive Value:-
      
                     The fruit of Soursop tree contains carbohydrates in    high quantity particularly fructose.

The fruit also contains significant amounts of vitamins such as Vitamin-C, Vitamin-B1 and Vitamin-B2. 
Flower bud

Planting method:-

       Soursop trees are cultivated by planting mature seeds. 
Flower

     
Food Value:-

        After removing outer skin and seeds green fruits are used as vegetable similar to jack fruits for making curries. It is cooked with spices such as coriander powder, black pepper and “Garam Masala powder ”  for making delicious curries.
        The flesh of the Soursop fruit consists of an edible, white pulp and fruits are eaten when they are fully ripe.  

Medicinal Value:-

The fruit, Leaves and seeds are used as herbal medicine.

Foot note:-

    It is believed that chemicals found in the Sour sop  selectively target the cancer cells, leaving healthy cells untouched.  



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15 comments:

pathinettamkoottukaran said...

Hai, Manoj

I read your post. it is very fruitful to know a plant in our courtyard.please publish such valuable articles with various aspects of plants in our surroundings.

lrugel said...
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Rahul Murali Warrier said...
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Anonymous said...

Hi Manu, a very serious and valuable approach to blogging. Great reading and Pictures...thanks

Anonymous said...

Is there a market in Kerala for this product?

Anonymous said...

its a very valuble information u given about medicinal ... Thank u vry much..

Vivek said...

Can anyone of you tell me its availability and all information regarding Soursop, where exactly I can get it.. Its argent.. My dad is Cancer patient.. Please send your information on vivek.tembhare16@gmail.com

rajesh said...

Vivek

Please Provide highly antioxident rich foods for your Father.It will help lot. you can also try Flax seed oil.

Unknown said...

Thanks sir

Roy Payyappilly A said...
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Vijay Nair said...

Very informative - Thanks.

Shaji.M.G said...

Dear manu
Kinsly inform me were i get this fruit in malabar .pls mgsclt@gmail.com

manu nair said...

Soursop fruits are not available in Kerala market but U will get seedlings from major Agri. Nurseries. It may cost around Rs.100-150 ...........

Parveen said...
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Unknown said...

I have seen the fruits on sale in many fruit shops in Coimbatore.
I have also seen this in many fruits shops in Malaysia, Thailand and Singapore. Soursop juice is a very popular drink in South East Asia.