Sapodilla (Manilkara zapota)

Sapodilla (Manilkara zapota) is a very popular fruit in Southeast Asia. This region is a major producer and consumer of this fruit. Sapodilla preferred mainly because it tastes sweet and soft flesh. This plant is thought to originate from tropical America-such as Guatemala, Mexico, and the West Indies-and in Java, this plant can be found in the lowlands. The Spanish colonizers brought from Mexico to the Philippines, and the possibility of it spreading to Southeast Asia.

Sapodilla has now grown in many tropical regions of the world. Brown manila germplasm collections are in Los Banos (Philippines), Queensland (Australia), India, Cuba, Brazil, Costa Rica, Florida and Hawaii (USA) and several other countries.

Sapodilla

Most sapodilla fruit eaten fresh as a table fruit.  However, sapodilla can also be processed into sherbet, mixed into ice cream, or used as jam. Sapodilla fruit juice can be concentrated into syrup, or fermented into wine or vinegar. The sap can be used as glue or varnish.

Characteristic of the three:

Large and shady tree, can grow up to 30-40 m tall, low-branched, rough-skinned trunk blackish gray to dark brown.  All passages containing latex, the milky white sap thick.

Single leaf, is having an intermittent, often accumulate at the tip of twigs, leaves flat brimmed, slightly hairy, dark green, shiny, round-egg shape oblong to somewhat lanceolate, 1.5 to 7 x 3.5 to 15 cm, the base and the tip wedge shape, stemmed from 1 to 3.5 cm, the main veins prominent on the lower side.

Single flowers in axillary panicles located near the end of the twigs, stalks 1-2 cm, often hanging, flower diameter s, / d 1.5 cm, brownish hairy side outside. The petals are usually arranged in two circles; crowns bell shape, white, share up to half the length of the tube.

Sapodilla can flower and fruit throughout the year, but in general there are one or two peak fruiting season. In Thailand, the peak season is between September and December, while in the Philippines between December-February.  Sapodilla fruit widely grown in lowland areas, although it grew well up to a height of about 2500 m above sea level.  Can grow at an altitude of 300 m above sea level,  sapodilla trees resistant to drought, salinity is somewhat higher, and the harsh winds. The most suitable soil is a sandy loam soil that is fertile and well-drained. 

The Fruit:

Manilkara zapota

Short-stemmed bunni fruit, round, oval or oblong, 3-6 x 3-8 cm, reddish to yellowish brown on the outside with coarse brown scales are easy to peel, often with the rest of the dried stigma stalk ends. Thin-skinned, with tender flesh and sometimes granular, reddish brown to yellowish, sweet and contains lots of juice.  Seed  can be up to 12 points, but most are less than 6, flat oval, glossy black or brownish, long about 2 cm,  white pieces of wax beans.

Nutritional value per 100 g (3.5 oz): Energy 347 kJ (83 kcal), Carbohydrates 19.96 g, Dietary fiber5.3 g, Fat 1.1 g, Protein 0.44 g, Riboflavin (vit. B2) 0.02 mg (2%), Niacin (vit. B3) 0.2 mg (1%), Pantothenic acid (B5) 0.252 mg (5%), Vitamin B6 0.037 mg (3%), Folate (vit. B9) 14 μg (4%), Vitamin C 4.7 mg (18%), Calcium 21 mg (2%), Iron 0.8 mg (6%), Magnesium 12 mg (3%), Phosphorus 12 mg (2%), Potassium 193 mg (4%), Sodium 12 mg (1%), Zinc 0.1 mg (1%).

 

Source : USDA Database.

Economic facts:

Particularly in Southeast Asia, the fruit is very popular. However, so far there has not been enough data to determine the number of sapodilla fruit production both globally and regionally. This delicious fruit valuable, although not yet be called expensive on the market of Southeast Asia.

In Southeast Asia, this fruit cultivation spread evenly, especially in the Philippines and Indonesia, but there has been no cultivation on an industrial scale.

Scientific classification:
Kingdom : Plantae
(unranked) : Angiosperms
(unranked) : Eudicots
(unranked) : Asterids
Order : Ericales
Family : Sapotaceae
Genus : Manilkara

Read also : Guava (Psidium guajava)

Read More

Mangosteen

Mangosteen

Mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana L.) is a member of the Clusiaceae family and the Garcinia genus. Garcinia is a large genus of about 400 species native to East India, the Malay Peninsula and Southeast Asia including Indonesia. In addition, based on morphological and cytological studies, it is estimated that the mangosteen originates from Southeast Asia. In addition, researchers argue that mangosteen is a fruit producer in Indonesia.

In fact, the mangosteen is a tropical fruit that has been used for hundreds of years around the world as a traditional medicine. Mangosteen trees can grow in the lowlands. The best growth is achieved in areas with an altitude of 500-600 m above sea level. In Indonesia, the centers for planting mangosteen trees are West Sumatra, Central Kalimantan, Riau, East Kalimantan, North Sumatra and North Sulawesi.

Europeans call this fruit the queen of tropical fruit, this title arises from the reasons for the pleasure of this fruit. Sweet, sour and fresh flavors come together in the perfect blend combination.

Tree and the fruit

The mangosteen is a tropical tree that grows in warm and stable temperatures, exposure to temperatures below 0 °C (32 °F) for long periods of time, generally killing the mature plant. Experienced horticulturists have grown this species outdoors and brought it for development in the extreme, south of Florida.

Mangosteen is obligate apomixis, the seeds do not come from fertilization and are thought to have narrow genetic diversity, so it is estimated that the mangosteen in nature is only one clone and has the same characteristics as its parent. Reality in the field shows the diversity of mangosteen plants which may be caused by environmental factors or genetic factors due to natural mutations in line with the history of mangosteen plants which are thousands of years old.

Mangosteen

Young mangosteen fruit, which do not require fertilization to grow (see agamospermy), will first be pale green or almost white under the canopy. As the fruit enlarges over the next 2 to 3 months, its skin will become a dark green color. During this period, the fruit may increase in size until the skin, which is 6–8 cm (2.4–3.1 in) in outside diameter, remains firm until final ripening.

The chemical properties of the underside of the mangosteen rind consist of various polyphenols, including xanthones and tannins which ensure that the astringents can inhibit the attention of insects, fungi, plant viruses, bacteria and animal predators, when the fruit is not yet ripe. Discoloration and softening of the skin are natural processes that indicate the ripening of the edible fruit and the seeds have finished developing.

Mangosteen fruit has a spherical shape, diameter 3.5-7 cm, dark purple color, thick fruit wall, milky white flesh, with yellow sap. In a mangosteen there are 1-3 seeds, covered by a thick seed membrane watery, white, and edible. In Indonesia, mangosteen has a flowering time between May and January.

Nutritional fact:

Furthermore, mangosteen contains bioactive compounds such as xanthones, terpenes, anthocyanins, tannins, phenols, and several vitamins. The nutritional value of mangosteen per 100 g includes 80.9 g water, 0.5 g protein, 18.4 g carbohydrates, 1.7 g fiber, 9 mg calcium, 14 mg phosphorus, 0.5 mg iron, 2 mg vitamin C, 0.09 mg vitamin B1 (thiamin), 0.06 mg vitamin B2 (riboflavin), and 0.1 mg vitamin B5 (niacin). 

The secondary metabolites of the main bioactive compounds of mangosteen are xanthone derivatives. The main constituents of the xanthone fraction in mangosteen were found in α-mangostin and γ-mangostin. More than 60 other xanthones isolated from different parts of the plant including 3-isomangostin, β-mangostin, gartanin, mangostanin, 1-isomangostin, garcinone B, 9-hydroxycalabaxanthone, mangostanol, mangostinone demethylcalabaxanthone, 8-deoxygartanin, and garcinone D. The majority of investigations focused on the extraction and elucidation of the structure of xanthones from mangosteen rind or pericarp.Below is the detail of nutrition of the mangosteen according to USDA;

Nutritional and medicinal per 100 g:

Economic value

From the explanation above, it can be concluded that this nutritious and delicious fruit has high economic value and is still very potential to be cultivated in a modern way.

This fruit market is global, growing only well in the tropics. So further research needs to be done to create a fruit plantation that has the title of queen of tropical fruit that will increase production and provide optimal economic benefits.

Scientific classification:

Kingdom       : Plantae

Clade            : Tracheophytes

Clade            : Angiosperms

Clade            : Eudicots

Clade            : Rosids

Order            : Malpighiales

Family          : Clusiaceae

Genus           : Garcinia

Species         : Garcinia mangostana

Others :

• Major exporters               :  Thailand, FOB price between $4 - $6/kg
• Availability                      :  Sessional
• Enjoying the fruit        :  Mangosteen fruit can be eaten directly without processing. Simply open the skin, when freshly harvested then you can use your hands to open it because it is relatively gentle. But if it had been harvested a few days the skin will tend to harden and of course you need a knife to open it for easy. Color of Mangosteen flesh is creamy white, the flesh formations is like an orange. For large segment  of flesh  usually containing seeds, the taste of seeds just like it’s pericarp is bitter . So you only get to enjoy the flesh fruit that perfectly sweet.

Further fruit to reviev : Salak (Salacca zalacca)

Read More

Velvet Apples (Diospyros blancoi)

The tree

Velvet Apple also known as Bisbul (Indonesia), Butter Fruit, Persimmon, Mabolo   (The Philippines) and Kamagong is the Fruit native to The Philippines and now can also be found around South East Asia Region with the scientific name Diospyros blancoi.

The fruit is typically reddish-brown in color, and while it is edible, with creamy, soft flesh, the smell of velvet apples is considered by many people to be unpleasant, commonly compared to the smell of cat feces or rotten cheese.

Characteristics of the tree: 

Tree of Diospyros blancoi A. DC naturally habitat is in Primary Tropical Rainforest and Secondary Rainforest from low to medium altitudes.  It is a evergreen tree, 7-15 m tall, with a conical crown, with trunk diameter about 50 to 80 cm wide. Straight trunked, with black or blackish color, branched, more or less horizontally and terraced, with a conical overall crown that is dense and densely packed with leaves so that it is dark on the inside.

The Flowers

It is a dioecious plant, with separate plants bearing male or female flowers. The urn-shaped male flowers are borne on axillary cymes, in small clusters of 3-7 flowers. The corolla is four-lobed and creamy white in color. The urn-shaped female flowers are similar in appearance to the male flowers, except that they are solitary, and slightly larger than the male flowers. For cultivation you could propagated the tree by seed or grafting.  

Fruit:

Fruit shape is round or flattened round, 5-12 × 8-10 cm, finely hairy like velvet, reddish brown then bright red and then slightly dull when ripe, with a "cap" of flower petals that do not fall off. Flesh is whitish in color, rather hard and dense, rather dry, slightly astringent sweet and smells good; covered with a thin hairy fruit skin. The strong smell is a bit like cheese and durian, for some people it's nauseating, some even say it smells like cat litter. Seeds up to 10 grains, skin brown, wedge-shaped somewhat like a puck, 4 × 2.5 × 1.5 cm (in the thick).

Velvet Apple

According to some credible source Diospyros blancoi A. DC. Known as an evergreen tree species of high-quality wood. Mabolo or Velvet Apple, the fruit of this plant is quite popular around some countries in South East Asia, but its potential in economic use has not been fully explored. Mabolo has a rich aroma. Of the 39 different volatile compounds isolated, its intact fruit and peel were found to both contain 24 compounds, whereas the pulp contained 28 compounds. The most important aroma compounds were esters and α-farnesene. 

Nutritions Value :

The fruit has 60-73% edible portion which contains, per 100 g: water 83.0-84.3 g, protein 2.8 g, fat 0.2 g, carbohydrates 11.8 g, fibre 1.8 g, ash 0.4-0.6 g, calcium 46 mg, phosphorus 18 mg, iron 0.6 mg, vitamin A 35 IU, thiamine 0.02 mg, riboflavin and niacin 0.03 mg, vitamin C 18 mg. The energy value averages 332 kJ/100 g.

Health Benefit:

• Reducing Skin Irritation

Apply the pulp topically to lower inflammation and skin irritation. Apply the pulp and juice on snakebites and other toxic invasions in the body, lower the effects of problems and counteract toxins.

• Hypertension and Heart Health

Velvet apple has potassium which acts as a vasodilator. It relaxes the blood vessels, lowers stress on heart and also blood pressure. The presence of fiber content helps to lower cholesterol. 

• Immune system strength

It is rich in Vitamin A and Vitamin C. These vitamins are antioxidants that can help you to rid of the free radicals that can mutate the healthy cells in cancerous cells. These vitamins also can help you to prevent chronic diseases, prevent premature aging, increase the health and appearance of your skin, and also it can stimulate cellular development and growth.

• Circulation

The presence of meaningful amount of iron stimulates red blood cells amount in the body. It promotes oxygenation of vital tissues and muscles, increases rapidity of therapeutic process of cells, stimulates development of hair and increases metabolic efficiency.

• Reduces physical weakness:

Due to its high nutritional value, Velvet Apple reduces physical weakness. Calcium in Velvet Apple makes bones strong. Guava also plays an important role in controlling blood pressure and diabetes. Reduces the risk of cancer: Relieves constipation due to its high fiber content. It reduces the risk of various intestinal diseases and colon cancer.

Economic Value:

Even though it has such good benefits, it can be consumed directly as a table fruit. But unfortunately, so far there is no global or regional data on the production potential of this fruit.

This fruit is still a 'gift from nature' considering that in Southeast Asia, South Asia to East Asia there is no plantation business management for this plant. This fruit is mostly produced from plants that grow in the forest, the level of cultivation is still very minimal. Maybe even just a home scale.

It would be very difficult to estimate production, but it would be easier if an industry started to develop that specifically manages the cultivation of this plant.

Mabolo can be consumed directly as a fruit. However, the possibility of producing its derivatives is also open. Mabolo can be used as raw material herbal health products, as raw material of fruit syrup and other drinking products, as fruit powder to support other products such as cosmetics, food and others. Lots of potential!

Scientific classification:

• Kingdom : Plantae
• Subkingdom : Tracheobionta
• Superdivision : Spermatophyta
• Division : Magnoliophyta
• Class : Magnoliopsida
• Subclass : Dilleniidae
• Ordo : Ebenales
• Family : Ebenaceae
• Genus : Diospyros
• Spesies : Diospyros blancoi A. DC.  

Read More

Marian Plum - Bouea macrophylla Griffith

Marian Plum is an endemic of South East Asia, and has Scientific name Bouea macrophylla Griffith. Even though it is becoming scarce in its source area, Marian Plum is still well known and has the local names Gandaria or Djatake (Indonesia) and serapoh, kondongan, kundang (Malaysia).

Marian Plum  is a tree of the humid tropics and thrives in light and fertile soil. It occurs naturally in lowland forests below 300 m altitude, but has been successfully cultivated up to elevations of about 850 m.

Tree with clear sap turning black. Stipules absent. Leaves opposite which is rare within the Anacardiaceae, distichous (in one plane along the twig), simple, large, glabrous. Flowers small, placed in small branched inflorescences. Fruits c. 3 cm long, orange-red fleshy drupes.

Characteristics of the tree: 

The tree is medium, but high. The height can reach 25 m with a diameter of 55 cm. The plant canopy is conical or round in shape with dense leaves so it is very suitable for use as a shade plant. The leaves are single and lanceolate to elliptical in shape, the leaves are large with leaves 13-35 cm long and 5-7 cm wide. Plants if grown from seeds will begin to bear fruit at the age of 6-8 years, while if from a connection they will bear fruit 4-5 years later. Naturally, gandaria plants grow to a height of 300 m above sea level. The best growth is in soil with good drainage.

The fruit resembles a round and small mango. The type is like a stone fruit, giving off a thick liquid and a distinctive smell like turpentine. When they are young, they are green in color, and when they are ripe, they are yellow-orange. The seeds are purple, oval-oval to lanceolate or oblong in shape. When young white, then gradually dark purple, then dark green. Fruit length 3-6 cm with a width of 3-4 cm. Seeds 2-5 cm in diameter with bright purple cotyledons. The inflorescences are panicles, the flowers resemble yellow mango flowers, and appear in the axils of the leaves. Flowering in September-December.

Uses

A popular fruit tree with diminutive mango-like fruits. Although generally rather acid even whenfully ripe, the fruit is much consumed fresh, cooked in syrup or made into an excellent compote. However, the use of the young fruits is more important; they serve as ingredient of a special kind of 'sambal', the chilli-based condiment, and in pickles ('asinan'), the bright purple cotyledons in the big seed adding to the attraction of the concoction. Occasionally the young leaves ¡ª which are deep violet, sometimes strikingly white when they emerge ¡ª are also consumed fresh, to be eaten with the gandaria- flavoured 'sambal'. Gandaria is recommended for planting in transmigration areas in Sumatra because of its abundant fruit production and very dense foliage, making it an excellent shade tree. The timber is durable but only used for minor purposes.

Nutritions

According to the Nutrition Division of the Thai Ministry of Health, every 100 grams of Mirian Plump contains:

Water : 86,6 g

Proteins         : 40 mg

Fat         : 20 mg

Carbohydrate         : 11,3 g

Fiber : 150 mg

Niacin : 0,5 mg

Vitamin C : 100 mg

Calcium         : 9 mg

Phosphor         : 4 mg

Iron         : 0,3 mg

Beta carotene         : 23 mg

Thiamine         : 0,11 mg

Riboflavin : 0,05 mg

Economic Potential

We do not yet have complete data on the global production of this fruit, but as far as we know there have been no serious cultivation efforts to develop this plant and produce one or several products that have high economics. Food, drink and health products.

With the nutritional potential as above, do you think that Mirian Plum has a high enough economic potential?

Scientific classification:

Kingdom            :         Plantae

Division            :         Magnoliophyta

Class            :         Magnoliopsida

Order                  :         Sapindales

Family                :         Anacardiaceae

Genus                 :          Boueae

Read More

Guava (Psidium guajava)

Guava (Psidium guajava), is a tropical plant from Brazil, which then spread to many other tropical countries, and became a popular fruit in there. Has a green rind when young and turn yellow when ripe and have white or red meat fruit and sweet-sour taste, Guava contain a lot of vitamin C.

Guava leaves contain tannins, eugenol (essential oils), fatty oil, resin, tannin substances, triterpinoid, apfel acid. While fruit contains amino acids (tryptophan, lysine), calcium, phosphorus, iron, sulfur, vitamin A, B1, and C, however, guava leaf not common to consume and only used as part of herbal medicine.

These plants include Myrtaceae family, grown in the lowlands to the highlands 1,200 meters above sea level; in loose soil to clay soils, especially in open areas and plenty of water.

Read More

Lansium domesticum ( Duku - Indonesia, Malay, Burmese)

Duku (Lansium domesticum) is a type of tropical fruit that grow primarily in Southeast Asia region. In Indonesia, Malaysia and Burma this fruits have the same name. Duku is a popular fruit and a favorite in the subcontinent. Sweet taste with a lot of water content is a perfect blend to be enjoyed in tropical climates that tend to heat. Duku fruit, relatively inexpensive and easily found everywhere, especially at harvest time.

Lansium domesticum

There are several different varieties of Duku, such Kokosan, Langsat in Indonesia, Langsat, lansa, langseh, langsep in Malay, Langsad and longkong in Thailand and some others varieties. Duku also be found in some South American countries like Suriname and Puerto Rico, except in South Asia such as India and Sri Lanka.

Duku, as is generally the other tropical fruits was originally a species that grows in the forest. However, due to the fruit popularity and economic value,   now planned cultivation already done.

Duku color is green when young and  becomes ivory colored when old, can be eaten without any further process. Soft and thin skinned, slightly oval-shaped with a length between 2 to 3 cm.

Scientific classification

• Kingdom      : Plantae
• Division       : Magnoliophyta
• Class            : Magnoliopsida
• Order            : Sapindales
• Family         : Meliaceae
• Genus          : Lansium
• Species        : L. domesticum

Read Alsp: Velvet Apples (Diospyros blancoi)

Nutrition

Nutrition for every 100 grams of fruit duku calories contained 70 cal, 1.0 g protein, 0.2 g fat, 13 g carbohydrates, 0.7 g minerals, 18 mg calcium, phosphorus 9 mg and 0.9 mg of iron. For the calorie content, mineral and iron duku level higher than that of content of apples or content of oranges.

Economic Prospect

Duku

Duku is very popular in Indonesia and Malaysia, this is one of the favorite fruit among the other tropical fruits at those countries. In Indonesia, especially on the islands of Sumatra and Java, duku has been cultivated as a production crop by local farmers. But unfortunately this agricultural process is still carried out in a traditional way. So the results depend on the season.

Because of this way of farming, this fruit which is rich in nutrition, sweet and very refreshing, so far has only become local consumption, has not become a promising inter-country trade. Duku will definitely be liked by many people if it is introduced more widely and its potential market is taken seriously.

This tree is a hardwood, so it is possible to make various tools and it can also be used as a good building material. Duku trees will be cut down when they are old and no longer productive. Unfortunately, the beneficial content of this valuable wood is often considered only as waste and turned into firewood. Of course you can see from the  business point of view, how this commercial value is wasted.

Read also: Gnetum Gnemon

Read More

Jack bean (Canavalia ensiformis)

Jack bean (Canavalia ensiformis), is the geographical origin and spread of South America and Central America. However, has been widely planted in the southern United States since prehistoric times, and have been found at archaeological sites in Mexico dated 3000 years BC. Now this bean has been commonly grown throughout the tropics.

The legume seeds produce a kind of bean that can be used as a source of vegetable protein can be processed in various types of processed foods, although presently, cultivation is not so intensive.

Characteristic of the tree:

Jack bean can adapt well in the humid tropics, but also can survive in periods of drought. These beans can be grown in areas with an annual rainfall ranges from 700-4000 mm. Although Jack bean is a low-lying plant but can also be grown at altitudes up to 1800 m., Best growth in full sunlight but have moderate shade tolerance. These beans tolerant to a variety of soil conditions including acid and covers a land area of arid tropics but are less affected by lack of water or salt content compared with other nuts.

Liana short-lived annual with a deep root system, or creeping shrub with twisted lengths of up to 2-3 m. Accordance with age, stems become woody. Branching growth on the lowest book and some secondary branches also grow.

Leaves alternate, consisting of 3 strands, 11-17 cm long petiole; leaves oblong-shaped round eggs, measuring 5-20 cm x 3-12 cm, tapered or rounded and taper at the top, rarely covered with short hairs on both surfaces , the veins appear and spy nets.

Mauve colored flower to purple, or sometimes white, came out with bunches in the armpit with a swell book which underpins 1-3 flowers on long flower stalks with 2-5 mm. Stems 10-35 cm long bunches, bunches up to 20 cm long, oblong pods, measuring 15-35 cm x 3-3.5 cm, containing 8-20 seeds, each valve with rib hem and there is an extra rib underneath. Seeds elliptical, measuring approximately 21 mm x 15 mm x 10 mm, ivory or white, with long brown hilum 6-9 mm.

Benefits of Jack Bean:

These beans are traditionally used as animal feed, the tree is widely planted as a cover crop, or planted for green manure in rotation with other crops. For fodder, the beans are usually dried before it is given as a livestock feed and can also be stored for inventory. Ripened seeds, then ground and used as a solid food at the farm. Half- ripe seeds are mixed with grain used to feed livestock in Hawaii.

Young seeds and pods are used as a vegetable for human food. 

Mature seeds with boiled or baked foods commonly eaten as tasty in Indonesia, but excluding Japan and tropical Asia, this species are now grown as crops for human food, although the numbers are still small. Seeds are usually burned and ground as coffee mixture. In Indonesia, flowers and young leaves steamed and used as flavorings. Urease is distilled from the seeds is used in the analysis in the laboratory. In Indonesia and China, beans and peas are heated and used as a medicine has been alleged that some of the basic content of the beans may be used for treatment purposes or for pest control.

The common Jack bean is also a source of the lectin concanavalin A, which is used as a reagent in glycoprotein biochemistry and immunology.

There are a lot of benefits we can get from this kind of fruit. Of course economic value can be calculated along with those fact.

Scientific classification:

• Kingdom: Plantae (plants).
• Subkingdom: Tracheobionta (vascular plants).
• Superdivisio: Spermatophyta (plants that produce seeds).
• Division: Magnoliophyta (plants with flowers).
• Class: Magnoliopsida (dashed two plants / dicots).
• Sub-class: Rosidae.
• Order: Fabales.
• Familia: Fabaceae (legumes tribe).
• Genus: Canavalia.
• Species:  Canavalia ensiformis

Read More

Yardlong Bean (Vigna unguiculata sesquipedalisis)

Yardlong Bean (Vigna unguiculata sesquipedalisis) a plant used as a vegetable or vegetable dish. He grew up with by climbing or twining. Yardlong beans are used as vegetables or fresh fruit when it is still young and the fibers are soft, long beans are easily found in the tropical territory of Asia, especially in South East Asia Region.

Yardlong Bean

Yardlong Bean (Vigna unguiculata sesquipedalisis is known as dau gok in Cantonese, jiang dou (豇豆) in Standard Mandarin, Thua Fak yao (ถั่วฝักยาว) in Thailand and Kacang Panjang in Indonesia and Malay, Sitaw in Tagalog, Ilokano utong in Bora in the West Indies and vali, Borboti in Bengali, India, eeril in Goa, India or đậu đũa (Vietnamese, literally: chopstick bean).

Scientific classification:

• Kingdom            : Plantae
• Division              : Magnoliophyta
• Class                   : Magnoliopsida
• Order                  : Fabales
• Family                : Fabaceae
• Subfamily           : Faboideae
• Genus                  : Vigna
• Species                : V. unguiculata
• Upaspesies          : V. u. sesquipedalis

Ready to consume

Food value:

Yardlong beans are a good source of protein, vitamin A, thiamin, riboflavin, iron, phosphorus, and potassium, and a very good source for vitamin C, folate, magnesium, and manganese.

Nutrient content values ​​Beans length per 100 g (3.5 oz) (Raw)

Energy 196 kJ (47 kcal)

Carbohydrates 8 g

Dietary fiber 3.6 g

Fat 0 g

Protein 3 g

             (Source: USDA Nutrient database)

In the portion size of 100 grams yardlong beans there are 47 calories, 0 grams total fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 4 mg sodium (0% daily value), 8 grams of total carbohydrates (2% daily value), and 3 grams of protein (5% daily value ). There is also 17% DV vitamin A, 2% DV iron, 31% DV vitamin C, and 5% DV calcium. (Percent daily values ​​based on a 2000 calorie diet daily values ​​individuals may be higher or lower depending on calorie needs each)

Economic Potential:

The daily use of this fruit is very large in the Southeast Asia region, especially in Malaysia and Indonesia, but there is still no agricultural industry that specifically cultivates it. You know the use of this fruit is every day, both on a household scale or in a restaurant.  So of course you can estimate how much economic potential is associated with these Yard long Beans. Young fruit can be consumed directly as a vegetable or be an important ingredient in various popular culinary.

Read More

Corn or Maize (Zea mays)

Corn or Zea mays or commonly referred to Maize is one of the most important sources of carbohydrates, especially in the western hemisphere. Known, maize has become a staple food of the people of Mexico and Latin America since prehistoric times. From Central America, the plant with the same name of the fruit is then grown to almost all tropical and sub-tropical regions around the world. Currently maize, become an important agricultural business from local, regional to multinational size of scope.

Characteristics of the tree:

Corn is a tropical grass plants is very adaptive to climate change and have a life span of 70-210 days. Corn can grow to a height of 3 meters. Unlike other grain crops, maize is a plant that flowers only males and females separately.

Maximum temperature of the corn crop and the start of the growth phase of development is 18-32 degrees Celsius. Beyond that maize can not be grown or even death. Corn can produce good yields on rainfall 300 mm per month. If less than 300 mm per month will result in damage to the maize crop, however, the factors of soil moisture also resulted in reduced yields.

Root: From an anatomical point of view, the roots of corn plants consisting of the epidermis, ground tissue, and endodermis that surrounding the vascular roots system, vascular system composed of xylem and phloem. The epidermis is composed of cells of elliptic and confrontation with two layers of hypodermis. Being morphologically maize root system consists of seminal roots, coronal, and aerial roots. 

The amount of the main outermost roots is between 20 - 30 pieces. Lateral roots that grow from the main root can reach hundreds with 2.5 to 25 cm long. Botanically maize plants including monocot, the main roots emerge and grow entered into the soil since the seed planted. Root growth slowed when the stems begin to arise out of land and then stop when the corn plant has 3 leaves.

Root growths then continued by growth of adventitious roots that develop in the first segment of maize crop. Adventitious roots are not growing from the radicle, then widened and thickened; the root is then played an important role as an enforcer of plants and absorbing nutrients. Adventitious roots were also found growing in the segment to two and three to the trunk, but its main function is not known with certainty.

Trunk: The trunk-shaped segments. In an old maize plant, the distance between sections will be lower. Stem segments can reach the number of 10-40, corn trunk generally unbranched, and trunk has two functions: as a place where the leaves grow and nutrient exchange. Nutrients carried by vessels called xylem and phloem. Phloem moving in either direction from top to bottom and from bottom to top, phloem is sucrose carrier to all parts of the plant in liquid form. Maize stem color is green, green to yellowish.

Leaf: Anatomy of the leaves of maize plants are relatively similar in characters to the grass that living in mild climate areas (mesophytic grass). Outermost epidermal tissue called the cuticle so that has to be rough. Epidermal tissue always outside, crystalline silica found in some types of leaves that come from different varieties. Crystalline silica is adjacent to the epidermal tissue, which serves as a binder. In the monocot plants such as maize, the leaves do not have the palisade tissue. Each vascular system surrounded by parenchyma tissue that hard but thin. Vascular system surrounded by bundle sheath. Corn is a C4 plant types, C4 plants have a large chloroplast cells and scattered rigidly. Chloroplasts located in the mesophyll leaf, which is located in the center of the leaf tissue.

Leaves are formed from the midrib and leaf (leaf blade and sheath). Leaves emerge from the stem segments, appears parallel to the leaf midrib stems. Leaf midrib brown colored covering almost all the corn stalks. In the early phase of growth, stem and leaves cannot be clearly distinguished. This is because the growing point is still below ground. New leaf can be distinguished by the stem when the leaves first 5 in the growth phase, emerge from the ground. New leaves will appear at the growing point. Growing point maize leaves on stem segments. Maize leaf numbering about 20 strands depending on the variety. In line with the growth of maize, stem diameter increases. Leaf color is green to yellowish green.

Flower, fruits, and seeds:

Flowers: Maize is monoecious plant in which every individual plant has male and female flowers. Male flowers lie at the growing point maize plants. When stalled growth phase, intact form of the female flowers will be obvious. Female flowers located in the center of the plant. Pollination occurs in the cornhusk, which will then develop into maize.

Male flowers found in flower panicles at the end of the plant, while the female flowers are found on maize cobs. Stigma stalk is frayed at the ends of hair that always cob wrapped in cornhusk whose numbers 6-14 strands. In the female flowers, there are a number of splitting hair ends and is quite a lot.

Male flowers have a central spike and a few lateral branches. Each spike has many flowers. The flower is called spikelet. Spikelet carrying pollen. Pollen began flying for 2 days before the female flowers are ready to accept. Escape of pollen from the male flowers will continue for 8 days in which the female flower is ready to receive it.

Female flowers appear on the axis of the leaf area (leaf axis). Not all leaf axis may issue female flowers, only 1 or 2 axis leaves may be the growth of female flower.

On maize plants, female flowers appear on the center of the trunk, female flowers similar to male flowers in the form of hair. Pollen from male flowers tied by a silk or a major part female flower shaped like hair. Pollen then fertilizes the pistil.

Fruit and seeds: Every single tree produces one or two corncobs, depending on variety. Corncobs covered by leaves cornhusk. Cornhusk leaf green when young, turn into yellowish white when the fruit has old, and dry. Corn cobs are located on the top of the first established and generally larger than those at the bottom. Each ear consists of 10-16 seed line whose number is always even.

The combination of cob, seeds and skin cover is commonly known as the fruit of corn. Corn cob length between 8-20 cm, depending on the varieties and cultivation techniques.

Corn seed is a type of cereal, the average weight of between 250-300 mg. Corn kernels are classified as caryopsis, because corn seeds have a perfect embryo structure, as well as the nutrients needed by the new individual candidates for future growth and progress. Endosperm is the largest part of the seeds, consisting of hard and soft endosperm. In addition to the endosperm, there is still a pericarp, and embryo. 

Endosperm starch composed of anhydroglucose compounds, most of which consists of two molecules, namely amylase and amyl pectin, and a small portion of material between.

However, in some types there are variations in the proportion of corn amylase and amyl pectin content. Corn grain endosperm protein consists of several factions, which are classified based on their solubility into albumin (soluble in water), globulin (dissolved in saline), or prolamine zein (soluble in high concentrations of alcohol), and gluten (soluble in alkali). In most of the corn, the proportion of each protein fraction was albumin 3%, 3% globulin, prolamine 60%, and 34% gluten.

Nutrient content:

Corn kernels are rich in carbohydrates. Most are on endosperm. Carbohydrate content can reach 80% of all dry seeds.

Carbohydrates in the form of starch are generally a mixture of amylase and amyl pectin. At glutinous corn, most or all of the starch is amyl pectin. This difference has little impact on the nutritional content, but rather as a means in the processing of foodstuffs. Sweet corn contains lower amyl pectin, but has more sucrose.

Corn nutrient content per 100 grams:

• Calories: 355 Calories
• Protein: 9.2 g
• Fat: 3.9 g
• Carbohydrates: 73.7 g
• Calcium: 10 mg
• Phosphorus: 256 mg
• Ferrum: 2.4 mg
• Vitamin A: 510 SI
• Vitamin B1: 0.38 mg
• Water: 12 g

Business and production:

Corn is not only used as food for humans, feed corn is also a good material for livestock, especially poultry. Corn is now an important agricultural commodities in the world, and is cultivated in many parts of the world, be it in a no tropical to tropical. Plant breeding continues to produce the best quality. In developed countries, the agricultural crops of corn have been held in a modern and large-scale.

The United States, China and Brazil are the world's third-largest producer of corn in the world where overall production has reached more than 700 million tons. Of course, the market demand will continue to increase along with the increasing need for food for humans and livestock.

Corn (Maize) as a source of carbohydrate can be grown in all climates, apparently still exciting to be produced as part of the farm business.

Scientific Classification:

• Kingdom: Plantae (Plants)
• Sub kingdom: Tracheobionta (Vascular Plants)
• Super Division: Spermatophyta (Produces seeds)
• Division: Magnoliophyta (flowering plants)
• Class: Liliopsida (dashed one monocots)
• Sub Class: Commelinidae
• Order: Poales
• Family: Poaceae (grasses tribe)
• Genus: Zea
• Species: Zea mays L.

Sub species:

• Flour corn — Zea mays var. amylacea
• Popcorn — Zea mays var. everta
• Dent corn  — Zea mays var. indentata
• Flint corn — Zea mays var. indurata
• Sweet corn — Zea mays var. saccharata and Zea mays var. rugosa
• Waxy corn — Zea mays var. ceratina
• Amylomaize — Zea mays
• Pod corn — Zea mays var. tunicata Larrañaga ex A. St. Hil.
• Striped maize — Zea mays var. japonica

Read More