Sapota is
an important tropical fruit also grown in subtropical region of the
world. It is a native of tropical America especially South Mexico or
Central America from where it spread to other countries. It is
cultivated in states of Karnataka, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh,
Maharashtra, West Bengal and Tamil Nadu
Sapota takes around 200 days to mature from fruit set. The fully ripe fruits are highly delicious, have a pleasant aroma. Fruits are round, oval or conical in shape depending on variety and season of harvest. Its flesh is yellowish brown to honey brown, soft in which hard black seeds are embedded.
Sapota plants require 7-8 months for harvesting from flowering. It is cultivated mainly in the coastal regions of India. Harvesting is done when fruits change to dull colour, ie. potato colour. Sapota fruits are highly perishable. Graded fruits are packed in boxes and transported to distant markets.
Sapota crop is attacked by more insect pets than diseases which infest the crop from seedling to harvest. Growers has to analyze the field situation and make make proper decisions for their crop mangement. They have to select healthy planting material and varieties which are tolerant to major insect pests.
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