Research

In'formation
Series on
Ecosystems

Vol. 26 N01l3 September-December 2014

Guyabano
Annona muricata Linnaeus

ECOSYSTEMS RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT BUREAU

Department of Environment and Natural Resources
College 4031, Laguna

RISE TASK FORCE
Executive Adviser Dr. Portia G. Lapitan
Team Leader Dr. Antonio M. Dano
Asst. Team Leader
and Editor Ms. Veronica O. Sinohin
Assistant Editors Ms. Liberty E. Asis
Ms. Marla V. Cambay
Production Coordinator Ms. Liberty E. Asis
Computer Services Mr. Nestor S. Leviste
Proofreading Ms. Bhia Mitchie T. Borcena
Ms. Marilou C. Villones
Mr. Eduardo M. Tolentino
Layout Artist Mr. Nestor S. Leviste
Printing Mr. Celso A. Luna
Collating and Binding Mr. Matthew E. Frias
Ms. Catalina M. Aldemita
Ms. Marilou C. Villones
Ms. Bhia Mitchie T. Borcena
Ms. Mecaela Aljza O. Solante
Circulation : Mr. Eduardo M. Tolentino
FOREWORD
One of the fruit trees that is highly valued nowadays
because of its excellent nutritional value and numerous uses is
Annona muricata L. or commonly called guyabano. Of the 60
or more species of the genus Annona, the species is the most
tropical, largest-fruited and is the only one that can be processed
and preserved.
Guyabano is generally grown as a commercial crop for
its nutritious fruits. It is an introduced species in the Philippines,
but owing to its various health benefits, it is widely cultivated in
all parts of the country. Research reveals that the fruit extracts
can inhibit the growth of human breast cancer cells which makes
guyabano more in demand these days.
It is envisioned that the information provided herein will
serve as a guide for the public on the beneficial uses of the
species as well as its propagation and plantation establishment.
Planting of this species will not only support the government's
call for reforestation but will also augment the supply of raw
materials for alternative medicine using this species.
PORTIAG~APITAN, Ph.D.
OIC-Director, EROS
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 TABLE OF CONTENTS

SPECIES PAGE

Guyabano
Scientific Name 1
Description 2
Uses 5
Distribution 8
Site Requirements 8
Phenology 9
Propagation 9
Plantation Establishment 10
Pests and Diseases 11
References 12

Guyabano
(Annona muricata L.)
Compiled by

MARITA W. BRIZ

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 Description

Annona muricata L. is a broadleaf flowering

evergreen tree which is considered as the most tropical
and largest-fruited of the 60 or more species of genus
Annona of the family Annonaceae. The genus" Annona"
came from the Latin word "anon" which means "yearly
produce" which refers to the fruit production habits of the
various species of Annona.

In the Philippines, it is cal/ed guyabano, which is

www.anythingonthebuzz.com
Common Names Guyabano, Guayabano (Filipino);
Soursop (English); Graviola,
Guanabana (Spanish)
Local Names Guyabano,guayabano,guyabana
(Tag.); labanos (Bik.); labanus
(Sul.); bayubana (Ilk.); atti (Ibn.)
Scientific Name Annona muricata Linneaus
Scientific Classification
derived from the Spanish guanabana. It has two
strains: The sweet and the ordinary, both have similar
botanic descriptions.
Stem
It is generally a small, evergreen tree that grows
around 5 to 10 meters in height with a diameter of
around 15 cm. It has a straight trunk and smooth dull
grey or grey-brown bark, rough and fissured with age;
pinkish inner bark, branches at first ascending with
the crown and forming an inverted cone. At maturity,
crown is spherical due to lack of apical dominance; the
twigs are brown or grey with lenticels.

Kingdom Plantae - Plants Leaves

Subkingdom Tracheobionta - Vascular plants
Superdivision Spermatophyta - Seed plants It has alternate leaves which are smooth, shiny,
Division Magnoliophyta - Flowering plants leathery, oblong-obovate to oblong leaves, green and
Class Magnoliopsida - Dicotyledons glossy on top and paler and glabrous on the underneath.
Subclass Magnoliidae It measure 6.5 to 20 cm and 2.5 to 7.6 cm wide pointed
Order Magnoliales on both ends with petioles of around 3-10 mm.
Family Annonaceae - Custard-apple family
Genus Annona L. - annona
Species Annona muricata L. - soursop

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 Fruit

It has green, soft spine heart-shaped/oblongl

ovoid fruit with a dark green, leathery skin. The fruit is
large usually measures 8 to 12 inches and weighs up
to 2.5 kilos. It has creamy and delectable flesh which
contains many black to brown seeds which are hard and
not edible. The skin is thin, with soft, white and fleshy
pulp with sour flavor.

The mature green fruit can be used as vegetable

and processed into sweet meats, while the ripe fruit is
usually eaten raw for dessert. It can also be processed
into fruit bars, tarts, candies, ice drop, shakes, ice cream,
sherbets and other beverages.

The species can bear fruits anywhere on its trunk

branches. Fruits are considered mature when they turn
dark and shiny green with recurved spines set far apart
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while ripe fruit are light yellow and soft.

Flower

The flower is large, solitary, yellow or greenish-

yellow. It has three outer petals which are broadly ovate
with a heart-shaped base and has three inner petals
which are also large, elliptic to obovate and rounded in
shape. In the center of the flower is a cone-shaped mass
consists of many carpels which will form the fruit with
numerous stamens below.

Seeds

Each fruit contains around 60 to 100 indigestible

:Ii _ seeds which are shiny, dark brown or black, oblong
www.soursop-cure.com measuring up to 2 cm long and 0.7 cm wide. The seeds
Guyabano Tree

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 Pulverized guyabano seeds mixed with soap and
Origin and Distribution
water can be used as an effective spray against
armyworms, caterpillars and leafhoppers that attack
The species is a native of Antigua, Bahamas,
plants. Oil and powder from guyabano seeds can also be
Barbados, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Cuba,
used to kill lice and bed bugs.
Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, French Guiana,
Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti,
Nutritional value
Honduras. Jamaica, Martinique, Mexico, Montserrat,
Netherlands Antilles, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay,
Guyabano Per 100g of edible portion
Peru, Puerto Rico, Sri Lanka. S1. Kitts and Nevis, S1.
Vincent and the Grenadines, Surinam, Trinidad and
Calories 65
Tobago, Uruguay, Venezuela, Virgin Islands (US), and
Protein 1.0 9 Zanzibar.
Fat 0.95g
Carbohydrates 16.5g It is exotic to Benin, Cambodia, China, Cote
Fiber 3.2 9 d'lvoire, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guinea, India,
Ash 58g Indonesia, Laos, Liberia, Mauritania, Nigeria, Papua New
Calcium 10.3 mg Guinea, Philippines, Reunion, Senegal, Sierra Leone,
Phosphorus 26.9 mg Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Uganda, US, and Vietnam.
Potassium 270 mg
Iron 0.64 mg The tree was introduced into the Philippines
Vitamin A 21U via trade routes from Mexico by way of the Manila-
Vitamin C 28.5 mg Acapulco Galleon trade.
Thiamine 0.10 mg
Riboflavin 0.06 mg Site Requirements
Niacin 1.3 mg
Climate
Tryptophan 11 mg
Methionine 8mg
The species is truly tropical. It can thrive at an
Lysine 60 mg
altitude between 800 and 1000 ft with moderate humidity,
Source: www.philippineherbalmedicine.orglguyabano.htm Cached plenty of sun and with shelter or protection from strong
winds.
Active Ingredients
Soil
The species has been reported to contain
alkaloids anonaine and anoniing which are higher in The species can thrive in any kind of soil,
seeds. The bark, leaves and seeds also have muricine however, a fairly deep, friable soil of volcanic origin is
and muncinine. favorable for growth and fruiting. Best growth can be
attained if planted in deep, rich, well-drained, semi dry
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 soil. It is commonly grown in acidic and sandy soil.
Though, it can tolerate dry soil condition. However,
with prolonged drought they shed too many leaves thus,
supplementary irrigation can help.
Phenology
The species starts to flower 2 to 4 years from
seed. However, it was observed that old, bare-root
transplants starts flowering around 6 months after
transplanting. The species flower and fruit continuously.
However, there is a principal season of ripening in a
particular area where it is grown.
Propagation
The species is usually propagated by seeds. It can
also be propagated using bareroot transplants,
marcotting (air layering), budding and grafting.
Seed Technology
1. The seeds are extracted from the fruit manually. Then
seeds shall be washed in tap water and air-dried.
Seeds can be temporarily stored however, it is
advisable to germinate the seeds as soon as
possible;
2. The seeds should be sown in seed boxes or seed
preferrably with sandy soil. Sow the seeds around
2.5 cm apart and 1 cm deep. Shade must be provided
and seedbed must be kept moist by watering on a
regular basis. Germination takes place after 20 to 30
days after sowing;
3. When the fir'~' ':et of leaves mature, the seedlings are
ready for potting into individual containers or plastic
bags with a size of 7 in x 10 in or (18 cm x 25 cm).
The plastic bags should have 4 to 6 holes close to
the bottom and filled with sandy soil. Water
immediately after potting and keep under partial
shade;
4. Outplanting can be done 6 to 8 months later.
However, the seedlings should be hardened first by
gradually exposing them to field condition i.e. full
sunlight and reduced frequency of watering. Seed are
sown in the flats or containers and kept moist and
shaded. Germination takes place from 15 to 30 days.
However, it can also be reproduced by cuttings or by
shield-budding.
Pollination
Beetles can carry out natural pollination. However,
it is reported that hand pollination is effective to improve
fruit quality and yield. The tree is not be propagated by
insects and birds because they cannot eat thorny
exterior of the fruits.
Plantation establishment
1. Site preparation can be done by slashing of
vegetation and clearing of the immediate periphery.
Dig holes of around 50 cm wide and 50 cm deep.
Plant the seedling at a distance of 4m x 4m and 7m x
7m in a square, rectangular or triangular pattern, then
refill with top soil and water immediately.
2. Fertilizers can be applied regularly every six months
usually at the start and end of the rainy season to
ensure vigorous seedling growth. Fertilizer application
can commence one month after planting with
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 ammonium sulfate (21-0-0) at a rate of 100-150
Literature cited:
grams/tree. The rate can be increased every year
until the onset of fruiting stage. by that time 250-300
en.wikipedia.orglwiki/Annona_muricata - Cached
grams of complete fertilizer (14-14-14) is applied.
Every year. this amount can also be increased from
plants.usda.gov/javalprofile?symbol=ANMU2&format=Print&ph
1.5 to 3 kg plus 200-300 kg of muriate of potash
otol 0= ... - Cached
(0-0-60);

www.cropsreview.com/soursop.htmICached
3. Although, the species can tolerate dry conditions
and requires dry climate to achieve synchronous
www.icuc-iwmi.org
flowering. prolonged drought can result to excessive
leaf shedding, thus supplementary water is needed.
www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/morton/soursop.htmICached
4. Ring weeding should be carried out regularly. Weeds
www.mixph.com/2006/11/how-to-grow-guyabano-soursop.html
that are removed can be put at the bases of the trees
- Cached
to serve as mulch.

www.philippineherbalmedicine.org/guyabano.htm Cached
5. Pruning must be done to get rid of diseased and
decaying branches/twigs to improve air movement
www.worldagroforestry.org/treedb/AFTPDFS/Annona muricata.
and light penetration;
pdf
6. The species can be planted as an intercrop with
mango, avocado, santol and with other perennial
crops such as banana. citrus and black pepper.
Annual crops like cereals, root, tuber crops and
vegetables can be planted between guyabano trees
while still young.

Pests and Diseases

The species can be attacked by insect pests such as

carpenter moth larva. root grubs, mealy bugs, scale insects
and oriental fruit fly. The major diseases include root rot, pink
disease and anthracnose.

A
 RISE Research Information Series on Ecosystems, popularly
Vol. 26 NO.3 known as RISE, is a compilation of the most recent
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The official citation is :

Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau
Guyabano (Annona muricata Linnaeus)
Vol. 26 Nos. 3, September - December 2014
Research Information Series on Ecosystems
ERDB, College 4031, Laguna

For copies, please contact:

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ECOSYSTEMS RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT BUREAU
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