Mangosteen Fruit Cultivation in India: A Practical Guide for Farmers

Table of Contents

• Why is Mangosteen known as the Queen of Tropical Fruits?
• Mangosteen Fruit Origin
• What are the Uses of Mangosteen Fruit?
• Mangosteen Fruit Cultivation – Health Benefits
• Mangosteen Cultivation: Key Steps for Successful Growth
  • Climate and Soil Requirements
  • Propagation
  • Planting and Seed Management
  • Growth and Care
  • Harvesting and Yield
  • Post-Harvest Management
• Mangosteen Crop: Pest and Disease Management
• Final Thoughts

Why is Mangosteen known as the Queen of Tropical fruits?

The mangosteen is known as the Queen of Tropical fruits because of its distinctive appearance, and unique combination of sweet and tangy flavors. It is a small, round fruit with dark-purple rinds, and juicy white flesh inside. The mangosteen scientific name is Garcinia mangostana L.

Mangosteen Fruit Origin

Mangosteen is a fruit which originated from Southeast Asia, particularly in the Sunda Islands of Indonesia and the Malay Peninsula. This fruit only thrives in warm and humid climates with abundant rainfall. In India, Mangosteen fruit is particularly grown in the southern regions, which include states like Kerala, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu.

This exotic fruit is popular for its antifungal, antibacterial, and antioxidant properties. Let’s discuss its uses and health benefits.

What are the Uses of Mangosteen Fruit?

Mangosteen can be used in a variety of food products, including:

• Fruit Salads
• Desserts
• Juices and beverages
• Jellies and Jams
• Syrups

Mangosteen Fruit Cultivation – Health Benefits

Mangosteen is a relatively low-calorie fruit that contains dietary fiber, vitamin C, and various bioactive compounds, including xanthones. Mangosteen can be beneficial for your health and the same has been discussed below:

• Mangosteen is enriched with vitamin C, which may support a normal immune system and contribute to overall nutritional health.
• It can help maintain healthy blood pressure and support cardiovascular health.
• Mangosteen has bioactive compounds like Xanthone that have been studied for their potential anti-inflammatory properties, which can be beneficial for your health.
• This is a relatively low-calorie fruit containing dietary fibers, which may help maintain a balanced diet and healthy weight management.

Mangosteen Cultivation: Key Steps for Successful Growth

Mangosteen requires a warm and humid tropical climate, and rich organic soil to grow well and bear its fruit. Let’s discuss the major steps involved in its cultivation process:

Climate and Soil Requirements

Climate is one of the most important factors in mangosteen cultivation. Some favorable climatic conditions for mangosteen cultivation are discussed below.

Propagation

Mangosteen is mainly propagated through seeds. Its seeds are produced apomixis/parthenogenesis rather than conventional sexual fertilization and develop into seedlings that are genetically similar to the mother plant. Seedlings generally require 2-3 years before transplantation.

However, freshly extracted seeds from healthy, fully ripe fruits can achieve a germination rate of more than 90% when sown within five days of extraction.

Planting and Seed Management

Proper planting techniques are essential for successful growth of mangosteen orchards. If you are planting holes for mangosteen trees, dig approximately 60 cm wide and 60 cm deep to provide enough space for root development.

The dug soil can be used to form a small mound around  the planting hole to improve the drainage system and prevent waterlogging.

The spacing between mangosteen plants becomes crucial at this stage as it ensures optimal growth. Mangosteen planting distance should be approximately 6 to 8 m.

This spacing creates adequate room for the trees to spread their branches and receive proper sunlight, promoting healthy growth and fruit development.

Growth and Care

Irrigation and Mulching: Adequate irrigation is required when you are growing young mangosteen trees, so that you can get better yield. Organic mulch, such as wood chips or straw, helps retain soil moisture, suppress weeds, and regulate soil temperature.

Nutrition Management: Mangosteen trees require limited fertilization. In nurseries, seedlings may be given 5 mL of a 20:20:20 NPK fertilizer with trace minerals to help grow.

Water Management: Adequate and consistent water supply is essential for proper mangosteen growth, nutrient uptake, and fruit development.

Flowering and Fruit Set: Mangosteen seedlings begin flowering 7–8 years after planting. Grafted plants may begin bearing after about three years, while substantial production may take considerably longer, around 18 – 20 years. However, altitude and the presence or absence of shade can affect the flowering season. Mangosteen trees typically produce one crop per year, harvested between June and September. However, its two crops are available in August through October and April through June in the Nilgiri Hills of Tamil Nadu.

Harvesting and Yield

Mangosteen trees normally bear fruit after 8-10 years of planting. Once mature, they approximately produce 500-1,500 fruits per year.

The fruits are harvested when the fruit colour changes from green to purple. Fruits are harvested along with the peduncle. They continue to develop their colour and become reddish purple, or purple within about two days. Since Mangosteen tree size can grow quite tall, they are harvested using long bamboo poles and aluminum ladders.

Post-Harvest Management

Mangosteen fruits should be handled carefully to avoid damage. They can be stored at room temperature for 15–20 days, while storage at 4–6°C and 85–90% relative humidity can extend shelf life to about 50 days.

Mangosteen Crop: Pest and Disease Management

There are a few insect pests and diseases that affect mangosteen fruit cultivation. Let’s discuss them below.

Shooty Mould (Genus Capnodium) – This is a fungal disease characterized by the development of black and velvety patches. It can lead to fruit rotting and less market value. However, it can be managed through fungicides containing copper oxychloride or mancozeb.

Anthracnose (Genus Colletotrichum) – This is a fungal disease that affects the fruits of mangosteen. Pruning of infected plant parts and the application of fungicides can help control anthracnose.

Thrips (Order Thysanoptera) - Thrips feed on the foliage and flowers of mangosteen trees. This leads to leaf discoloration, bronzing, and distorted growth. These thrips can be managed through chemical insecticides.

Mealybugs (Family Pseudococcidae) - Mealybugs insects feed on the sap of mangosteen trees, causing leaf yellowing and sooty mold development. This can be controlled by using horticultural oils or insecticidal soaps.

Final Thoughts

Mangosteen fruit cultivation is becoming popular in India due to its unique flavor, nutritional value, and increasing consumer demand. Farmers can grow mangosteen fruit successfully by selecting suitable climatic and soil conditions for it. Although the crop takes several years to produce fruit, farmers can achieve good yields through proper harvesting and post-harvest practices. Overall, mangosteen offers great potential as a fruit crop in India and can provide farmers with a promising cultivation opportunity.