Discover Philippine Fruits
Tropical Name: Atis
English Name: Sugar Apple; Sweet Sop
Scientific Name: Anona squamosa L

Origin/Abundance The original home of the sugar apple is unknown, but it is commonly cultivated in the Philippines and other tropical areas such as Southeast Asia, Australia, and South America. It is believed that Atis was introduced to the Philippines by the Spaniards. The sugar apple tree requires a tropical or near-tropical climate and grows well in dry areas. Atis is reportedly tolerance to drought conditions, but also interferes with pollination during bloom. Therefore, high atmospheric humid condition has been adopted to be the best climate for its delicious fruits. The Atis tree is shallow-rooted and does not require deep soil and also grow in a sandy soil, but needs a good drainage. The seeds have is reportedly to have a relatively long life, having kept well for 3 to 4 years. They germinate better a week after removal from the fruit than when perfectly fresh. Germination may take 30 days or more but can be hastened by soaking for 3 days or by scarifying. The percentage of germination is said to be better in unsoaked seeds. While the tree is generally grown from seed, vegetative propagation is practiced where the crop is important and early fruiting is a distinct advantage.

Seedlings may be budded or grafted when one-year old. Seedlings 5 years old may yield 50 fruits per tree in late summer and fall. Older trees rarely exceed 100 fruits per tree unless hand-pollinated. With age, the fruits become smaller and it is considered best to replace the trees after 10 to 20 years. The fruits will not ripen but just turn black and dry if picked before the white, yellowish or red tint appears between the rind segments, the first signs of separation. If allowed to ripen on the tree, the fruit falls apart.

In India, mature fruits treated with 50-60 g carbide ripened in 2 days and thereafter remained in good condition only 2 days at room temperature, while those packed in straw ripened in 5-6 days and kept well for 4 days. Storage trials in Malaya indicate that the ripening of sugar apples can be delayed by storage at temperatures between 59° and 68°F (15°-20°C) and 85-90% relative humidity, with low O2 and C2 H2. To speed ripening at the same temperature and relative humidity, levels of O2 and CO2 should be high. Storing at 39.2°F (4°C) for 5 days resulted in chilling injury.

Food Consumption & Other Use The ripe Atis is usually broken open and the flesh segments enjoyed while the hard seeds are separated in the mouth and spat out. It is so luscious that it is well worth the trouble. In Malaya, the flesh is pressed through a sieve to eliminate the seeds and is then added to ice cream or blended with milk to make a cool beverage. It is never cooked.

• *Minimum and maximum levels of constituents from analyses made in the Philippines, Central America and Cuba.
• **The average sugar content is 14.58% and is about 50-50 glucose and sucrose.

Toxicity The seeds are acrid and poisonous. Bark, leaves and seeds contain the alkaloid, anonaine. Powdered seeds, also pounded dried fruits serve as fish poison and insecticides in India. A paste of the seed powder has been applied to the head to kill lice but must be kept away from the eyes as it is highly irritant and can cause blindness. If applied to the uterus, it induces abortion. Heat-extracted oil from the seeds has been employed against agricultural pests. Studies have shown the ether extract of the seeds to have no residual toxicity after 2 days. High concentrations are potent for 2 days and weaken steadily, all activity being lost after 8 days.

Other Uses The seed kernels contain 14-49% of whitish or yellowish, non-drying oil with saponification index of 186.40. It has been proposed as a substitute for peanut oil in the manufacture of soap and can be detoxified by an alkali treatment and used for edible purposes. The leaves yield an excellent oil rich in terpenes and sesquiterpenes, mainly B-caryophyllene, which finds limited use in perfumes, giving a woody spicy accent. Fiber extracted from the bark has been employed for cordage. The tree serves as host for lac-excreting insects.

Medicinal Uses: In India the crushed leaves are sniffed to overcome hysteria and fainting spells; they are also applied on ulcers and wounds and a leaf decoction is taken in cases of dysentery. Throughout tropical America, a decoction of the leaves alone or with those of other plants is imbibed either as an emmenagogue, febrifuge, tonic, cold remedy, digestive, or to clarify the urine. The leaf decoction is also employed in baths to alleviate rheumatic pain. The green fruit, very astringent, is employed against diarrhea in El Salvador. In India, the crushed ripe fruit, mixed with salt, is applied on tumors. The bark and roots are both highly astringent. The bark decoction is

See More Tropical Fruits -- Tropical Fruits -- Atis Balimbing Bayabas Santol Tambis

Source: Department of Agriculture, Purdue University