Annona muricata is a fast-growing, small, evergreen tree that can reach a height of about 7 metres.
The bole can be up to 15cm in diameter, generally branching from near the base.
Widely cultivated in tropical regions for its edible fruit.
One of the first fruits carried from the Americas to the Old World tropics, now widely distributed in Asia, Australia, Polynesia, and Africa.

Known Hazards

Seeds are toxic.
Stems contain irritant sap.

Habitat

Found on coastal limestone and lowland woodlan.

Cultivation Status

Cultivated, Wild

Cultivation Details

Grows best in moist, humid tropical and subtropical lowlands up to about 1,000 metres.
Prefers mean annual temperature 25 - 30°c, mean annual rainfall over 1,000mm.
Thrives in sunny positions.
Prefers moist, well-drained sandy loam, pH 5.5 - 6.5.
Also succeeds in light-textured, alkaline soils.
Very drought tolerant once established.
Leaves have aroma similar to blackcurrants.
Flowers are protandrous, pollen shed as outer petals open towards evening, attracting small insects for cross-pollination.
Fruiting begins in 2nd year, 5-year-old trees produce 10 - 50 fruits depending on pollination and nutrients.
Many named varieties.
Weed-free base avoids shallow root dehydration in dry season.
Tolerant to dry soil conditions but drops leaves under prolonged drought.

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw or cooked. Juicy and refreshingly acid.
Pineapple-like aroma, subacid to acid flavour, very juicy, rich in vitamins A and C.
Consumed fresh when ripe or mixed with ice cream or milk.
Immature fruits, cooked as vegetable in soups.
Extremely pleasing fragrance and flavour.
Ovoid fruit, up to 20 x 10cm, can weigh 1 kg.
Young shoots - cooked as vegetable.
Leaves make corossol tea.

Medicinal

Soursop used in traditional medicine.
Antimalarial, uterine stimulant, anticrustacean, antiparasitic, cytotoxic (acetogenins), cardiac depressant, antiamoebic, antibacterial, antifungal, hypertensive, spasmogenic, vasodilator, insecticide, smooth muscle relaxant.
Plant contains isoquinoline alkaloids including reticuline.
Seed contains galactomannan, sitosterol, stigmasterol, cholesterol.
Leaves antispasmodic, calmative, narcotic.
Crushed leaves for distension, dyspepsia, scabies, skin diseases, rheumatism, coughs, colds.
Decoction with Ludwigia erecta for hypertension, heart palpitations.
Decoction with avocado leaves for antihypertensive.
Decoction with salt for digestive tract ailments, fatigue.
Sleep-inducing properties; used in infusion or under pillow.
Crushed leaves externally for boils, abscesses, nervous shock.
Fruit antiscorbutic, febrifuge, mildly antidysenteric, vermifuge.
Used for bedwetting in children, remedy for excess foot/hand perspiration.
Fruit tonic for fever, headache, hypertension, heart problems.
Leaf and seed decoction for intestinal malaise.
Leaves and bark cardiotonic, sedative; decoction for anxiety attacks.
Green bark for wounds to stop bleeding.
Flower/flower bud tea with honey for colds, chest pain, nerve disorders.
Bark and young fruits for diarrhoea, dysentery.

Agroforestry Uses

Suitable for intercropping with larger fruit trees like mango or avocado, removable once these achieve crown closure.

Other Uses

Powder of dried leaves/sap, powder/oil from seeds for vermin, lice, bedbugs.
All parts insecticidal; used with fruit as fish bait.
Wood: brown heartwood, whitish sapwood, soft, light (specific gravity 0.4), not durable.
Rarely used in construction but for ox yokes, fuel.

Propagation

Seed - usually breeds true to type.
Sow in individual pots, not deeper than 2cm, at 21°C.
Seeds may be sown directly into the field or in a nursery bed.
Seed coat hard; scarification with near-boiling water and soaking can speed germination.
Semi-ripe cuttings.