Mangosteen Fruit Developing - Three Weeks On from the Flowers Opening

This is how the young mangosteens look. There are only 7 of them.

 

I grow Tropical Fruit as some of you know. I have a mangosteen tree that is about 7 years old and was not expecting it to bear until about 13 years old, but what a surprise to find about 3 weeks ago, 7 flowers coming on it. They all appear to have set and young fruit is growing. I want to share some fact about the mangosteen.

 

The mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana) is known as "The Queen of Tropical Fruits" (the Durian being "The King of Tropical Fruits", maybe the best fruit in the world!!). Mangosteen is regarded as one of the four most delicious and best-flavoured fruits in the world that is most readily accepted. It is about the size of a good peach.

 

It is a native of the Malay Peninsula and will not grow outside tropical areas.

 

In these photos the fruit is the embyro stage, with the distinctive raised area on the bottom of the fruit, corresponding to the number of segments inside the fruit. It then requires over one hundred days to reach full ripeness. At that time, the fruit stays on the tree until it has turned more purple and brown patches may appear as well. There are some minor insect pests such as thrips which may scrape the surface of the mangosteen fruit, damaging the pigment cells. The fruit ends up completely brown at full ripeness. The quality of the fruit inside is unaffected by this but is not as attractive to look at.

 

The mangosteen has a soft white edible centre that is similar in construction to the sections of an orange, with possibly one seed in each of the larger segments. The smaller segments are seedless and seem to melt in your mouth, releasing a delicious juice that is a perfect balance of acids and sugars. The rind, or pericarp, is about 4 to 6 mm thick (1/4" or more) and when freshly harvested is somewhat soft. The fruit at that time can be opened by squeezing until the rind splits, exposing the edible segments inside.

The mangosteen tree reaches on average an height of 15 metrs but can grow as high as 30 metres. It is rather slow growing and forms a pyramidal crown. The bark is very dark coloured and flaking. The thick dark green leathery mangosteen leaves are evergreen and opposite positioned. Flowers are about 5 cm large and contain four leaves. The dark purple coloured mangosteen fruits reach a size of about 7 cm. Inside the mangosteen fruit are 4 to 7 triangular segments containing juicy white flesh and seeds. The juice is sweet and slightly acid with a delicious flavour.

 

Phytochemicals

Mangosteens contain following phytochemicals: Catechins, Rosin, Mangostin, Normangostin, Xanthones, Gartanin

 

Medicinal properties

The dried mangosteen rind is use to treat dysentery, diarrhoea and gonorrhoea. Made into an ointment, mangosteen rind powder is used to treat skin disorders such as eczema and other skin disorders. Mangosteen pulp and rind contains many antioxidant which may have anti-tumor activity. Mangosteen also appears to have anti-inflammatory properties. Studies have demonstrated that prenylated xanthones can help to treat tuberculosis. Of the xanthones tested, alpha-beta-mangostins and garcinone B had the strongest inhibitory effect against mycobacterium, which causes tuberculosis.

 

Soil Characteristics

Wide range of soil types provided drainage is good.

 

Climate Requirements

Equatorial; high even temperatures with high humidity.

 

Culture

Grown from seed with grafted plants showing no evidence of faster growth. Several species, with Purple Mangosteen being the most acceptable.

 

Harvesting

Two crops a year sometimes, in February and October. Fruit are picked at an early stage of maturity, when reddish-pink and before the dark purple develops.

 

Length of time until first crop

Seven to thirteen years. Some trees never fruit!

Done