Manilkara zapota, commonly known as sapodilla (), sapote, chicozapote, chico, chicoo, chicle, naseberry, nispero, or soapapple, among other names, 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. It was introduced to the Philippines during Spanish colonization. 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". and dilly tree.

The specific epithet zapota is from the Spanish , which ultimately derives from the Nahuatl word used for other similar-looking fruits. It can grow to more than tall with a trunk diameter of up to ; but the average height of cultivated specimens is usually between with a trunk diameter not exceeding . It is wind-resistant and the bark is rich in a white, gummy latex called chicle. Its leaves are elliptic to ovate <!-- min lgth fr FoNA ref --> long with entire margins on long petioles; they are medium green and glossy with brown and slightly furry midribs. They are arranged alternately.

The trees can survive only in warm, typically tropical environments (although it has low tolerance to drought and heat in its early years), 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.

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

Fruit

thumb|right|Sapodilla fruits being sold on a street in [[Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, India]]

The fruit is a large berry, in diameter. 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.

Acetone extracts of the seeds exhibited in vitro antibacterial effects against strains of Pseudomonas oleovorans and Vibrio cholerae.

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Synonyms

Synonyms of this species include:

Uses

The fruit is edible and a favorite in the tropical Americas. Chicle from the bark is used to make chewing gum.

See also

  • Sapote

References

  • CRFG Publications: Sapodilla
  • Sapodilla – Fruits of Warm Climates – Julia F. Morton