Snap Bean or Green Bean or France Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.)

Snap Bean or Green Bean or France Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) is a vegetable fruit including Leguminosae family, originally from Central America and South America.  This plant is more suitable to be cultivated in the medium and highland plateau. Bean plants can be divided into two types namely vine type (indeterminate nature) and upright type (shrub-shaped and determinate nature).  The vines type have more branches; have a lot more flowers anyway, so it has the potential for greater returns. This type can reach 3 feet in length and easy to fall down, so it takes a trellis / stake in order to grow well. 

The  upright type generally short with no more than 60 high cm.

This nut is known throughout the world and is one of the raw materials of various types of popular processed foods.  Snap Bean are generally harvested when the fruit is still young. There are a lot of soup recipe that include Snap Beans as part of the raw material.  Although physically beans are fruits, but when it is used more commonly referred  as a vegetable.

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Aubergine or eggplant or Solanum melongena

Aubergine or eggplant  is a plant belonging to the family of Solanaceae and genus Solanum. This plant is a native of India and Sri Lanka, and is closely related to tomatoes and potatoes. The fruit commonly used as a vegetable for cooking and has botanical name Solanum melongena.

Eggplant is a vegetable that is well known by most people, especially in the tropics regions. The fruit is composed of various types, but majority of them has two kinds of color, which is light green and purple. Eggplant can be enjoyed straight or other cooking materials. The fruit trees also have so many kinds of varieties.

Plant characteristics:

Eggplant is a green plant that generally cultivated annually especially in dry session.  This plant can grows about 40-150 cm (16-57 inches) in height. The leaves are large, with a rough lobe. The size is 10-20 cm (4-8 inches) long and 5-10 cm (2-4 inches) in width. The types of semi-wild bigger and grow to as high as 225 cm (7 feet), with leaves that exceed 30 cm (12 inches) and 15 cm (6 inches) in length. The trunk is usually spiked. Flower color between white to purple, with a crown that has five lobes.  Fruit contains flour, with a diameter of less than 3 cm in the wild, and even greater for the preferred species.

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Pomegranate (Punica granatum)

Pomegranate (Punica granatum) is a fruit crop that believed come from and Persia or Iran now origin. However, has been known since a long time in the Mediterranean.  Now well known and popular in South China and Southeast Asia.

Description of tree:

This tree is in the category of high herbaceous plant with between 2-8 m, woody, round, branched, spiny; tree bark turns dark brown after a brownish green. This leaves a single, lanceolate, flat edge, pointed, 1-8 cm long, and 5-15m width, surface shiny and green. Single flower, growing on the ends of branches, short flower stalks, petals attaches, red or pale yellow. Crown rounded, curved flower stalk, yellow, white pistil, red or yellow.

The pomegranate can be grown in lowland tropics and sub-tropics to a height of 1500 m above sea level,  better in the clay and the long dry season and summer. Currently in Southeast Asia in particular has become a garden or yard plants. Pomegranate plants rooted riding, yellow to brownish, tuberous root with yellow to brownish color.

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Sugar apple (Annona squamosa)

Sugar Apple

Sugar apple (Annona squamosa), is a plant belonging to the genus Annona and shrub. This tree comes from tropical areas of America and now widely grown in Colombia, El Salvador, India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and the Philippines.

Sugar-apple fruit is round with a lot of cutting edge skin (like soursop). The flesh is white.

Including semi-green perennial shrubs or deciduous tree reaching 8 m in height,  intermittent leaves, simple, javelin longitudinal, 7-12 cm in length, and width of 3-4 cm. The flowers appear in bunches of 3-4, each flower 2-3 cm wide, with six petals, yellow-green spotted purple at the base.

The fruit is usually round or cone-like evergreen, 6-10 cm diameter, with skin bumps and flaky, white flesh.

Plant characteristic:

This plant grow better in hot climate, grows well in a variety of waterlogged soil conditions and adapt well to the humid and hot climate,  and will thrive with adequate irrigation. Propagation can be by seed and transplants.  Planted at a spacing of 4x3 meters, luxuriance of fruit growth and yield can be maintained with the irrigation, fertilization, and pruning well. Plants begin to bear fruit at the age of 1-2 years.

Sugar apple tree effeminate androgynous, tall 2-7, m. Simpodial branching stems, fall edge, light brown bark. Single leaf, alternate, elliptical shape elongated strands to form oblong, blunt tip, tapering to short, long 6-17 cm, a width of 2.5 - 7, 5 cm, flat edge, hairless, shiny green, single flower, in a file, 1-2 opposite or beside the leaves.  Leaves triangular petals, buds time continued as valves, small. Leaf crown triangular, the outer fleshy thick, length of 2 to 2.5 cm, yellowish white, with a hollow base that turns purple, basic flower shaped like a monument, numerous stamens, white, anthers hat shape, connecting space widened cider, cider and closed space. Pistils many, each composed of one leaf buds of fruit, dark purple, the anthers sit, limping into a single, easy to fall off.

Flowering period occurred throughout the year from January to December, grown in the lowlands to an altitude of 1000 m above sea level, especially in the sand to sandy loam soil and good drainage system at a pH of 5.5 - 7, 4.

Fruit:

There are two types of sugar apple sugar apple is green and red, both outside the rough-skinned waxy.
Sugar-apple fruit flesh is white-gray. Has a lot of seeds, almost oval-shaped with a pointed bottom. Have a distinctive smell, but not overpowering. Sugar-apple fruit juicy, soft, very sweet without the sour taste and distinctive scented.

Sugar apple certainly can be enjoyed immediately after you open the outer skin, made into juice,  also used primarily as part of specific cooking especially for baking.

Nutritional value per 100 g (3.5 oz):

Energy 393 kJ (94 kcal), Carbohydrates 23.64 g, Fat 0.29 g, Protein 2.06 g, Thiamine (vit. B1) 0.11 mg (10%), Riboflavin (vit. B2) 0.113 mg (9%), Niacin (vit. B3) 0.883 mg (6%), Pantothenic acid (B5) 0.226 mg (5%), Vitamin B6 0.2 mg (15%), Folate (vit. B9) 14 ?g (4%), Vitamin C 36.3 mg (44%), Calcium 24 mg (2%), Iron 0.6 mg (5%), Magnesium 21 mg (6%), Manganese 0.42 mg (20%), Phosphorus 32 mg (5%), Potassium 247 mg (5%), Sodium 9 mg (1%),Zinc 0.1 mg (1%)

=Source: USDA Database entry=

Sugar apple

Benefits of sugar apple fruit for health

What are the benefits of sugar apple fruit for health? Launching from the Vegan Diet Society, here are some of the benefits of sugar apple fruit for health:

1. Lowering High Cholesterol

One of the benefits of sugar apple fruit for health is being able to lower high cholesterol. This is because sugar apple fruit contains niacin which is effective in reducing high cholesterol.

2. Launching the Digestive System

In addition, sugar apple fruit also contains a lot of fiber which can improve the digestive system. The fiber in sugar apple fruit is also able to prevent constipation and various other digestive problems.

3. Prevent Diabetes

Consuming sugar apple fruit is also beneficial for preventing high blood sugar or diabetes. The reason is, sugar apple fruit contains a lot of fiber which can slow down the rate of absorption of blood sugar in the body so that it can avoid diabetes.

4. Prevent Asthma

Apart from having a lot of fiber, sugar apple fruit is also rich in vitamin C. With the vitamin C content in sugar apple, of course this can make sugar apple a preventer of several diseases, such as asthma.

5. Lowering Hypertension

Not only effective in lowering high cholesterol. Consuming sugar apple fruit is also able to reduce hypertension or high blood pressure. This is because sugar apple fruit contains potassium which plays a role in lowering blood pressure in the human body.

6. Maintain Heart Health

Sugar apple fruit contains B vitamins which are useful for preventing the development of homocysteine, where homocysteine in large quantities can cause strokes and coronary heart disease. In addition, consuming sugar apple fruit can also prevent various symptoms of heart disease, such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure and others.

7. Maintain Healthy Bones and Teeth

Another benefit of sugar apple fruit is being able to maintain healthy bones and teeth. The reason is, sugar apple fruit also contains magnesium which can help maintain the density and health of bones and teeth.

8. Improves Eye Health

The benefits of sugar apple fruit for health that cannot be missed are good for the eyes. This is because sugar apple fruit is a rich source of vitamin C and riboflavin which can help prevent certain eye problems, such as macular degeneration, poor eyesight, night blindness, and maintain good eyesight.

Economic potential:

The fruit is delicious, sweet, but still has not been cultivated in bulk, so it has not been quite popular in the world. However, this fruit has a good nutrient content, especially the content of vitamin C.

Despite coming and now grows in areas of South America, this fruit is also apparently popular in Southeast Asian countries is also Taiwan's tropical climate. People in the region are already familiar with this fruit, but the data on the number of production is still hard to come by.

It may be that this fruit will be the future of your agribusiness. Who knows?

Scientific classification:

• Kingdom   : Plantae
• (unranked): Angiosperms
• (unranked): Magnoliids
• Order       : Magnoliales
• Family      : Annonaceae
• Genus       : Annona
• Species   : A. squamosa

Other fruit to know: Papaya (Carica Papaya)

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Palm Fruit (For Palm Oil)

Palm Oil - Fruit (Elaeis) or called Kelapa Sawit in Malaysia and Indonesia, today is an important part of the horticulture industry of Southeast Asia; Malaysia and Indonesia are the two largest countries in the world producing this product. Although there are, concerns over the impact of tropical deforestation that converted into large-scale plantations palm oil.

Plant characteristics:

Palm Oil is one of the large palm families, as well as other type of palm oil palm has root fibers, pinnate compound leaves composed and colored green. Native plant oil palm can reach a height of 25m, the former plant stems covered with bark and the tree will last until the age of approximately 12 years. After reaching the age of the stem will flake shaped like palm trees so.

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Durian

Durian is a kind of very popular fruit in the countries of Southeast Asia. A tropical fruit that have tough skin and sharp, has a pungent and distinctive aroma, this fruit is an origin of the region and growth in countries like Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei, Thailand, and the Philippines.

In this region, the typical Durian even earned the nickname as the "King of Fruits.” However, there is also mention that the real durian is a  "controversial” fruit , because that as well as many of his ardent fans durian was also rejected by many others because of its aroma.

Characteristics of the tree:

Durian is not a single species, but a group of plants with the genus Durio.  In botany usually called Durio zibethinus.

Durian fruit tree merukan hardwood tree species, high growth between 25-50 m, depending on the species. Durian trees often have buttress root (root board). Pepagan (bark) reddish brown, peeling irregular. Leafy canopy and tenuous.

Leaves elliptic to lancet, 10-15 (-17) cm × 3 to 4.5 (-12.5) cm; located alternate; stemmed; stem taper or ramp blunt and pointy toes; bright green upper side, lower side covered by scales silvery or golden star with feathers.

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Mango (Mangifera indica)

Mango (Mangifera indica) is one kind of tropical fruit that goes into the genus Mangifera that consists of about 40 members and Anarcardiaceae tribal.

Mango trees including higher plants the stem structure (habitus) group included arboreus, woody plants with stem height of more than 5m. Generally, the tree height can reach 10-40m.

Naming mango comes from the Malayalam language, in Kerala, India. Spread to Europe and the rest of the world after brought by the Portuguese.

Believed the fruit came from the border of India and Myanmar, and has spread since about 1500 years ago.

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Papaya (Carica Papaya)

Papayas (Carica Papaya) are part of tropical fruits, the regions of the world in roomates they are grown. Botanists commonly agreed that this fruit is a Central America origin, particularly Mexico. In Mexico, the cultivation of papaya believed to be first performed.

Papaya

Papaya then spread and become famous globally and now cultivated in many tropical regions, both Central America and Asia. 

Papaya has skin generally green to dark green fruit when young, and then turns yellow to blush at the old and mature. Content of the fruit is usually dark orange to red, has a high water content, soft ripe fruit and sweet.

Health Benefits

Papayas offer not only great taste but are rich also of antioxidant nutrient such as carotenes, vitamin C, Vitamins B, Vitamin E, pro-Vitamin A – caroteinoid phytonutrients, potassium, magnesium and fiber. All those are nutrients that need by our cardiovascular system also believed as colon cancer protector. Papaya also contain the digestive enzyme, papain, a similar enzyme found in pineapple.

Varieties:

Kapoho Solo or Puna Solo popular on Kauai, Hawai,  Pear-shaped, large fruit reaches only 400-800g, grown in tropical areas with high rainfall, yellow rind and pale orange flesh.

Waimanolo, a papaya varieties cultivated in Hawaii. This variety is larger, more durable and quality, cultivated in areas with low rainfall levels.

Higgins was introduced to Hawaiian, a high quality of papaya, pear-shaped, with orange-yellow skin, deep-yellow flesh, and averages 0.45 kg.  Grow better in and territory or seasons of high rainfall, in low rainfall area need a god irrigation.

Hortus Gold, a variety of South African origin. One of the most delicious papaya fruit, mature faster, round oval, golden yellow colored, may reach 1 to 1.4 kg weight. Papaya is generally valuable almost twice that of other varieties.

Bettina and Petersen, is the variety that comes from Queensland, Australia, the growth period is short, oval fruit shape, generally weighs 1.5 to 2.25 kg.

Other varieties :

Carica Papaya

Mexico-America; Verde,Gialla,Cera,Chincona.

USA-Florida; Cariflora,Betty,Homestead.

Venezuela; Paraguanera, Roha.

Barbados; Wakefield, Graeme 5&7.

Cuba; Maradol.

Trinidad; Santa Cruz Giant, Cedro.

Dominian Republic; Cartagena.

India-Asia; Coorg Honey Dew, Coimbitor 2.

Indonesia; Semangka, Dampit.

Malaysia; Eksotika, Sekaki.

Thailand; Sai-naumpueng, Khaek Dam.

Philippines; Cevita/Sinta.

Taiwan; Tainung.

South Africa; Hortus Gold, Kaapmuiden, Honey Gold.

Terms of grows:

Plants can be grown in lowland and high 700 - 1000 meters above sea level, rainfall 1000 - 2000 mm / year, optimum temperature 22-26 C and humidity around 40% and the wind is not too tight is very good for pollination. Soil fertile, friable, contains a lot of humus and should hold water, the ideal soil pH is neutral with a pH of 6 -7.

Production Fact

According to FAO data, the Global production of papaya showing that in 2006 global production of Papaya are 9.1 metric tons while the production of Papaya increased to 13.2 metric tons in 2016 or increased 46% during that period.

Those data showing us that Papaya is a worldwide agricultural commodity. 

Scientific classification:

Domain      : Eukaryota

Kingdom    : Viridiplantae

Phylum       : Spermatophyta

Subphylum : Angiospermae

Class          : Dicotyledonae

Order         : Violales

Family        : Caricaceae

Genus         : Carica

Species       : Carica Papaya

Palm Fruit (For Palm Oil)>>

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Ananas (Pineapple) - Ananas Comosus Merr

Ananas also called as Pineapple and botanically named as Ananas comosus Merr is a kind of thick and rough-skinned fruit, but the fruit has a soft texture and watery inside.

Some sources say that the fruit came from Brazil and Paraguay, but now spread throughout Latin America, South Asia, South East Asia, Africa, and Australia. Currently there are over 2000 pineapple species identified worldwide.

According to UN-FAO the biggest pineapple product now come from South Asia Countries; the Philippines, Thailand and Indonesia, the second region contributor come from Latin America; Costa Rica, Chile and Brazil.

Pineapples are a composite of many flowers whose individual fruitless fuse together around a central core. Each fruit let can be identified by an "eye," the rough spiny marking on the pineapple's surface. Pineapples have a wide cylindrical shape, a scaly green, brown, or yellow skin, and a regal crown of spiny, blue-green leaves and fibrous yellow flesh. The area closer to the base of the fruit has more sugar content and therefore a sweeter taste and more tender texture.

So far, this fruit has become part of the commercial commodity and cultivates many regions around the world, Pineapple can be consume directly as a fresh fruit, but can also be proceed as but can also be further processed into a variety of dishes, including part of the syrup, cake or candy and various others.

Varieties

Smooth Cayenne, this variety has greatest size among pineapple varieties; pineapple weight can reach 2 to 4 kg.  Flesh pale yellow fruit, but has more sugar content and acid. Ideal temperature for growing conditions is 20 degrees Celsius. Therefore, it is more suitable to be planted in sub-tropical regions.

Smooth Cayenne has some sub-varieties.

Spanish Variety, weight about 1,3kg per piece, the flesh is golden brown and stringy.  The skin is more powerful that tend to be more durable. This type is widely used as raw material of canned fruit.

Queen, this type has the sweetest meat, dark yellow, but not durable, generally made juice or syrup or consumed directly as fresh fruit. The advantage of this variety is a shorter growing season, but has smallest size in average.

Tropical area becomes favorite place to grow for this type of variety.

Nutritional Profile

Pineapple is an excellent source of vitamin C and manganese. It is also a good source of vitamin B1, vitamin B6, folate, copper and dietary fiber.

Health Benefits:

• Potential Anti-Inflammatory and Digestive Benefits
• Antioxidant Protection and Immune Support
• Protection against Macular Degeneration

Storage

Cold storage at a temperature of 40°F (4.44°C) and lower causes chilling injury and breakdown in pineapples. At 44.6-46.4°F (7-8°C) and above, 80-90% relative humidity and adequate air circulation, normal ripening progresses during and after storage. At best, pineapples may be stored for no more than 4-6 weeks. There is a possibility that storage life might be prolonged by dipping the fruits in a wax emulsion containing a suitable fungicide. Irradiation extends the shelf life of half- ripe pineapples by about one week.

Cultivation and Plantation

Pineapple plants can grow well in areas with rainfall evenly distributed throughout the year with a number between 1000-2000 Mm per year as well as the optimum temperature of 32 C. This plant grows well in areas with an altitude of 100-200 M from sea level, but in certain circumstances can also grow well at an altitude of 1200 M above sea level.

Pineapple plants grow well in loose soil cannot stand a puddle of water, especially in wet areas with waterlogged clay long enough, pineapple plants will grow languish. For dry areas required a good irrigation system and the ground water is not more than 150 cm of sea level. Land suitable for cultivation of pineapple is lightly textured soil (sand) and medium and contains a lot of humus with a pH of about 4,5 - 5,5 for podzolic soil with a high content of Litany, pineapples can be grown with intensive fertilization offset and the use of high organic fertilizers.

Weeding is carried out every 3 months, prior to weeding the leaves should be tied so that weeding is not disturbed by the spiny leaves. Along with weeding, soil needs to be loose so that the roots of the plants get enough air, after the job is complete weeding, leaf ties removed while for flat lands in wet climates need to be made drainage ditch. Watering should be arranged so that water does not stagnate.

Irrigation is required at the time of the buildup; around the clump of pineapple, plants can be given additional cover (mulch) such as straw, leaves and so on.

Harvest.

In general pineapple can be harvested after the age of 12-15 months depending on the seed used. Pineapple fruit is ready to harvest can be determined from:

• Fruit stalk into wrinkles;
• Eyes more horizontal and large thorns and reinforced more rounded;
• Fruit color begins to turn yellow;
• Fragrant pineapple aroma arises.

Scientific classification

Kingdom    : Plantae

Order         : Poales

Family        : Bromeliaceae

Subfamily   : Bromelioideae

Genus        : Ananas

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