Sumac

Rhus coriaria L.
Soil and Climate
• Origin: the Mediterranean
• It grows in any soil type and tolerate dry
calcareous soil.
• Soil pH: acid, neutral and alkaline.
• It prefers dry or moist soil and well-drained soil
• The plant will do best in sunny sites, It cannot
grow in the shade
• It prefers warm temperate climate
• It can tolerate frost in winter and up to 40 °C in
summer.
Propagation
• Seed are collected in the fall and should be
scarified in concentrated sulfuric acid for 1-6 hrs
• They are planted outdoors in fall or stratified for
2 months at about 4°C before planting.
• Leafy softwood cuttings taken in midsummer,
root well if treated with 10,000 ppm IBA.
• Root cuttings (10 cm) are dipped in 3,000 ppm
IBA and planted at 10 to 16°C
• Planting spacing: 1-2m
Irrigation and Fertilization
• Irrigation: 700-1000mm/year rainfall is enough,
and 1-2 supplemental irrigation is required if
the rainfall is low.
• Organic fertilizer: 50 m3/Ha applied in late fall
• Recommended fertilization: 200-300 kg/ha NPK
Harvesting and Processing
• Sumac is made with the dried fruits
• The purplish brown fruits are harvested at the
end of the summer and left on the branch to dry
in the sun.
• The berries are ground and sifted, to get rid of
the stony seeds, to produce a coarse textured
powder ranging in color from a brighter red to
dark brownish red.
Major diseases and insects
Diseases
• Leaf spot: (Actinopelte and Cercospora)
• Powdery mildew: (Phyllactinia)
• Root rot: (Phymatotrichum and Ehizoctonia)

Insects
• Aphids
• Boreres
• Caterpillars
• Mites
Major constituents of fruit pericarp:
• Limonene
• Nonanal
• (Z)-2-decenal

Uses
• Culinary and food industry
• Dye Industry.
Pharmacological Properties
• Antioxidant
• Antibacterial
• Non-mutagenic
• Hypoglycemic
• Anti-migratory
• Anti-ischemic
• DNA protective effect
• Antifungal