Fruit Facts from
the
California Rare Fruit Growers, Inc.
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 that 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
Chestnut
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.
Further
Reading
CRFG Yearbooks: Vol. 5 (1973) pp 6-20; Vol. 9 (1977) pp 18-19, 35-36; Vol. 16 (1984) pp 56-64; Vol. 18 (1986) pp 33-36
CRFG Newsletters: Vol. 4 No. 3 (1972), pp 1-12; Vol. 5 No. 2 (1973), pp 8-11; Vol. 6 No. 1 (1974), pp 6-8
Facciola, Stephen. Cornucopia: a Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, 1990.
Morton, Julia F. Fruits of Warm Climates. Creative Resources Systems, Inc. 1987. pp. 191-196.
Ortho
Books. All About Citrus and Subtropical Fruits. Chevron Chemical Co.
1985. pp. 71-72.
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