'Makok': A home garden and potential commercial sapodilla for South Florida

Abstract

The 'Makok' sapodilla [Manilkara zapota (L.) P. Royen] was selected in Thailand and has been under evaluation in South Florida for the past 15 years. With annual pruning the tree can be maintained at 2 m or less, while maintaining regular production. The fruit are spindle-shaped, typical of sapodilla selections from Thailand. Fruit size is highly dependent on tree management, and with fruit thinning, average weight is 70g, with a length of 57 mm and a width of 42 mm. There are anaverage of 2 seeds per fruit. The skin is thin, tan to golden-yellow when washed. The flesh is brown to tan, smooth and free of stone cells common in poor-quality sapodilla. The fruiting season in Florida is from the Spring to the early Fall, with peaks dependent on the timing of growth, and tree management. Production is consistent and heavy. Due to its highly
manageable nature, Makok' fits well into modern home garden
production schemes. The tree can be maintained small and
productive with a limited input of time and equipment needs. There is also potential for commercial use of 'Makok'; however, the small size and need for annual tree management would necessitate a change in current production and marketing strategies used for sapodilla in Florida.