Manilkara zapota

{{Short description|Species of tropical evergreen tree}} {{for|other plants called "sapote"|Sapote}} {{stack| {{speciesbox |name = |image = സപ്പോട്ട.jpg |status = LC |status_system = IUCN3.1 |status_ref = <ref name=IUCN>{{cite iucn | author1 = Martínez Salas, E. | author2 = Samain, M. | author3 = Oldfield, S. | name-list-style = amp | title = ''Manilkara zapota'' | article-number = e.T61964429A61964470 | year = 2021 | access-date = 23 June 2022}}</ref> |genus = Manilkara |species = zapota |authority = (L.) P.Royen |synonyms = See text }} {{nutritional value | name=Sapodilla, raw | image=Sapodilla Malay with seeds.jpg | caption=Fruit, cross-section | kJ=347 | protein=0.44 g | fat=1.1 g | carbs=19.96 g | fiber=5.3 g | calcium_mg=21 | iron_mg=0.8 | magnesium_mg=12 | phosphorus_mg=12 | potassium_mg=193 | sodium_mg=12 | zinc_mg=0.1 | vitC_mg=14.7 | riboflavin_mg=0.02 | niacin_mg=0.2 | pantothenic_mg=0.252 | vitB6_mg=0.037 | folate_ug=14 | source_usda = 1 | note=[https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/food-details/167759/nutrients Link to USDA Database entry] }} }}

'''''Manilkara zapota''''', commonly known as '''sapodilla''' ({{IPAc-es|lang|ˌ|s|a|p|o|ˈ|d|i|y|a}}),<ref name=PLANTS>{{PLANTS | symbol = MAZA | taxon = Manilkara zapota | access-date = 23 June 2022}}</ref> '''sapote''', '''chicozapote''', '''chico''', '''chicoo''', '''chicle''', '''naseberry''', '''nispero''', or '''soapapple''', among other names,<ref name="GRIN">{{GRIN | access-date = 23 June 2022}}</ref><ref name="Small">{{cite book |last1=Small |first1=Ernest |year=2011 |title=Top 100 Exotic Food Plants |location=Boca Raton, Louisiana, USA |publisher=CRC Press |isbn=978-1-4398-5688-8 |pages=515–524}}</ref>{{rp|515}} is an evergreen tree native to southern Mexico and Central America. An example natural occurrence is in coastal Yucatán, in the Petenes mangroves ecoregion, where it is a subdominant plant species.<ref>World Wildlife Fund. eds. Mark McGinley, C.Michael Hogan & C. Cleveland. 2010. [http://www.eoearth.org/article/Petenes_mangroves?topic=49597 ''Petenes mangroves''. Encyclopedia of Earth. National Council for Science and the Environment. Washington DC] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111015030054/http://www.eoearth.org/article/Petenes_mangroves?topic=49597 |date=2011-10-15 }}</ref> It was introduced to the Philippines during Spanish colonization.<ref>{{cite book |last=Fernandez |first=Doreen G. |year=1997 |title=Fruits of the Philippines |location=Makati City, Luzon, Philippines |publisher=Bookmark Inc |page=22 |isbn=971-569-261-3}}</ref> It is grown in large quantities in Mexico and in tropical Asia, including India, Pakistan, Thailand, Malaysia, Cambodia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Bangladesh, as well as in the Caribbean.

== Common names == Most of the common names of ''Manilkara zapota'' like "sapodilla", "chiku", and "chicozapote" come from Spanish meaning "little sapote".<ref name="Small"/>{{rp|515}} Other common names in English include '''bully tree''', '''soapapple tree''', '''sawo''', '''marmalade plum'''<ref name=EPPO>{{cite web | title = ''Manilkara zapota'' | url = https://gd.eppo.int/taxon/MNKZA | publisher = European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organization (EPPO) | access-date = 23 June 2022}}</ref> and '''dilly tree'''.<ref name=DILLY>{{cite journal | title = ''Manilkara zapota (Naseberry): Medicinal Properties and Food Applications'' | date = 2020 | journal = International Journal of Fruit Science | doi = 10.1080/15538362.2019.1687071 | last1 = Tulloch | first1 = Adrian | last2 = Goldson-Barnaby | first2 = Andrea | last3 = Bailey | first3 = Dennis | last4 = Gupte | first4 = Sonal | volume = 20 | pages = S1–S7 | bibcode = 2020IJFS...20S...1T }}</ref>

The specific epithet ''zapota'' is from the Spanish {{lang|es|zapote}} {{IPA|es|saˈpote|}}, which ultimately derives from the Nahuatl word {{lang|nah|tzapotl}} used for other similar-looking fruits.<ref name="Small"/>{{rp|519, 521}}

== Description == thumb|left|Sapodilla tree

A sapodilla tree can live up to one hundred years.<ref>[https://indiaagronet.com/horticulture/CONTENTS/sapota.htm#:~:text=It%20is%20evergreen%2C%20tropical%20fruit,is%20eaten%20as%20dessert%20fruit. Horticulture: Crop Plantation Guidence <nowiki>[sic]</nowiki> - The Sapota (Chickoo)]. ''India Agro''. Retrieved 8 August, 2023.</ref><ref>[https://www.agrifarming.in/sapota-grafting-methodschikoo-pruning-training#introduction-to-sapota Introduction to Sapota]. ''Agri Farming''. Retrieved 14 August, 2023.</ref> It can grow to more than {{convert|30|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} tall with a trunk diameter of up to {{convert|1.5|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}; but the average height of cultivated specimens is usually between {{convert|9|and|15|m|ft|abbr=on}} with a trunk diameter not exceeding {{convert|50|cm|in|abbr=on}}.<ref>[http://www.worldagroforestry.org/treedb2/AFTPDFS/Manilkara_zapota.pdf ''Manilkara zapota'' Sapotaceae (L.) van Royen], Orwa C, Mutua A, Kindt R, Jamnadass R, Simons A. 2009. Agroforestree Database:a tree reference and selection guide version 4.0 (http://www.worldagroforestry.org/af/treedb/ {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171023084159/http://www.worldagroforestry.org/af/treedb/ |date=2017-10-23 }})</ref> It is wind-resistant and the bark is rich in a white, gummy latex called chicle. Its leaves are elliptic to ovate {{convert|6–15|cm|0|abbr=on}} long with entire margins on {{convert|1–3|cm|0|abbr=on}} long petioles; they are medium green and glossy with brown and slightly furry midribs. They are arranged alternately.<ref name="FoNA">{{cite book |chapter=Manilkara zapota |chapter-url=http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=200017540 |title=Flora of North America |year=2009 |location=New York and Oxford |publisher=Flora of North America Association |volume=8 |pages=232, 234–235 |via=eFloras}}</ref>

The trees can survive only in warm, typically tropical environments (although it has low tolerance to drought and heat in its early years),<ref>[https://gardenoracle.com/images/manilkara-zapota.html#:~:text=Heat%20tolerant%3A%20These%20trees%20have,part%20shade%20in%20hot%20climates. Growing Sapodilla: Manilkara zapota]. ''Garden Oracle''. Retrieved 8 August, 2023. "Heat tolerant: These trees have difficulty when young, over 90°F, and when mature, over 105°F. They will need afternoon shade and extra water in these temperatures. Drought tolerant: Yes, after three years."</ref> dying easily if the temperature drops below freezing. From germination, the sapodilla tree will usually take anywhere from five to eight years to bear fruit. The sapodilla trees yield fruit twice a year, though flowering may continue year round.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Kute |first1=L.S. |last2=Shete |first2=M.B. |title=Handbook of Fruit Science and Technology |chapter=Sapota (Sapodilla) |date=1995 |publisher=CRC Press |pages=475–476 |doi=10.1201/9781482273458-31 |isbn=978-0-429-15273-3 }}</ref>

The white flowers are inconspicuous and bell-like, with a six-lobed corolla.

=== Fruit === [[File:Sapodilla in Guntur .jpg|thumb|right|Sapodilla fruits being sold on a street in Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, India]]

The fruit is a large berry, {{convert|4–8|cm|0|abbr=on}} in diameter.<ref name="FoNA"/><ref name="Harris2009">{{cite book|last1=Harris|first1=Kate|title=Trees of Belize|date=2009|publisher=Bay Cedar Publishing|location=Belize|isbn=978-0-9927582-0-2|pages=94–95}}</ref> An unripe fruit has a firm outer skin and when picked, releases white latex (chicle) from its stem. A fully ripened fruit has saggy skin and does not release chicle when picked. Inside, its flesh ranges from a pale yellow to an earthy brown color with a grainy texture akin to that of a well-ripened pear. Each fruit contains one to six seeds.<ref name="Harris2009"/> The seeds are hard, glossy, and black, resembling beans, with a hook at one end that can catch in the throat if swallowed.

The ripe fruit has an exceptionally sweet, malty flavor. The unripe fruit is hard to the touch and contains high amounts of saponin, which has astringent properties similar to tannin, drying out the mouth.{{citation needed|date= May 2024}}

== Biological studies == Compounds extracted from the leaves showed anti-diabetic, antioxidant and hypocholesterolemic (cholesterol-lowering) effects in rats.<ref>{{cite journal|vauthors=Fayek NM, Monem AR, Mossa MY, Meselhy MR, Shazly AH | title = Chemical and biological study of ''Manilkara zapota'' (L.) Van Royen leaves (Sapotaceae) cultivated in Egypt. | journal = Pharmacognosy Research | volume = 4 | issue = 2 | pages = 85–91 | year = 2012 | pmid = 22518080 | doi = 10.4103/0974-8490.94723 | pmc=3326762 | doi-access = free }}</ref>

Acetone extracts of the seeds exhibited ''in vitro'' antibacterial effects against strains of ''Pseudomonas oleovorans'' and ''Vibrio cholerae''.<ref>{{cite journal |vauthors=Kothari V, Seshadri S | title = In vitro antibacterial activity in seed extracts of ''Manilkara zapota'', ''Anona squamosa'', and ''Tamarindus indica''. | journal = Biol. Res. | volume = 43 | issue = 2 | pages = 165–8 | year = 2010 | pmid = 21031260 | doi = 10.4067/S0716-97602010000200003| doi-access = free }}</ref>

<gallery> File:Manilkara-zapota-yucatan.jpg File:Chikoo seeds.jpg File:Manilkara zapota.jpg File:Manilkara zapota - Nispero fruit and leaves 01.jpg File:Manilkara zapota - Nispero fruit and leaves 04.jpg File:Chikoo.JPG File:Sapodilla fruit from Bangladesh.jpg File:Sapodilla plant in Bangladesh.jpg </gallery>

==Synonyms== Synonyms of this species include:<ref>{{cite web |url=https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:152641-2#synonyms |title=''Calotropis gigantea'' (L.) P. Royen |date=2024 |website=Plants of the World Online |publisher=Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew |access-date=4 May 2024}}</ref>

{{columns-list|colwidth=22em| *''Achradelpha mammosa'' (L.) O.F.Cook *''Achras breviloba'' (Gilly) Lundell *''Achras calderonii'' (Gilly) Lundell *''Achras conzattii'' (Gilly) Lundell *''Achras coriacea'' Lundell *''Achras dactylina'' Lundell *''Achras gaumeri'' (Gilly) Lundell *''Achras latiloba'' Lundell *''Achras lobulata'' (Lundell) Lundell *''Achras lucuma'' Blanco *''Achras mammosa'' L. nom. illeg. *''Achras meridionalis'' (Gilly) Lundell *''Achras occidentalis'' Cels ex Ten. *''Achras paludosa'' Lundell *''Achras petenensis'' (Lundell) Lundell *''Achras rojasii'' (Gilly) Lundell *''Achras sapatilla'' J.Paul & W.Arnold *''Achras sapota'' L. [Spelling variant] *''Achras striata'' (Gilly) Lundell *''Achras tabogaensis'' (Gilly) Lundell *''Achras tainteriana'' Lundell *''Achras tchicoomame'' Perr. *''Achras verrucosa'' Stokes *''Achras zapota'' L. *''Achras zapotilla'' (Jacq.) Nutt. *''Calocarpum mammosum'' (L.) Pierre *''Calospermum mammosum'' (L.) Pierre *''Gambeya mammosa'' (L.) Pierre *''Lucuma mammosa'' (L.) C.F.Gaertn. *''Lucuma zapota'' (L.) Urb. *''Manilkara achras'' (Mill.) Fosberg *''Manilkara breviloba'' Gilly *''Manilkara calderonii'' Gilly *''Manilkara conzattii'' Gilly *''Manilkara gaumeri'' Gilly *''Manilkara grisebachii'' (Pierre) Dubard *''Manilkara meridionalis'' Gilly *''Manilkara rojasii'' Gilly *''Manilkara striata'' Gilly *''Manilkara tabogaensis'' Gilly *''Manilkara zapotilla'' (Jacq.) Gilly *''Manilkariopsis lobulata'' Lundell *''Manilkariopsis meridionalis'' (Gilly) Lundell *''Manilkariopsis petenensis'' Lundell *''Manilkariopsis rojasii'' (Gilly) Lundell *''Manilkariopsis striata'' (Gilly) Lundell *''Manilkariopsis tabogaensis'' (Gilly) Lundell *''Mimusops grisebachii'' Pierre *''Nispero achras'' (Mill.) Aubrév. *''Pouteria mammosa'' (L.) Cronquist *''Sapota achras'' Mill. *''Sapota zapotilla'' (Jacq.) Coville ex Safford *''Vitellaria mammosa'' (L.) Radlk. }}

==Uses== The fruit is edible and a favorite in the tropical Americas.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Hargreaves|first1=Dorothy|last2=Hargreaves|first2=Bob|title=Tropical Trees of Hawaii|year=1964|publisher=Hargreaves|location=Kailua, Hawaii|page=14}}</ref> Chicle from the bark is used to make chewing gum.

==See also== * Sapote

==References== {{Commons category}} {{Wikispecies}} {{Reflist|32em}}

==External links== * [http://www.crfg.org/pubs/ff/sapodilla.html CRFG Publications: Sapodilla] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081206195216/http://www.crfg.org/pubs/ff/sapodilla.html |date=2008-12-06 }} * [https://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/morton/sapodilla.html Sapodilla – Fruits of Warm Climates – Julia F. Morton]

zapota Category:Flora of Mexico Category:Flora of Belize Category:Flora of Guatemala Category:Crops originating from indigenous Americans Category:Tropical fruit Category:Saponaceous plants Category:Plants described in 1753 Category:Botanical taxa named by Carl Linnaeus