Averrhoa carambola - Carambola

Description and Uses

Averrhoa carambola (Carambola) is a tropical tree from Malaysia & Indonesia . It is mainly grown for its fruit crops , which have a medium shelf life. The crop is harvested by hand picking. It starts flowering after 4 - 5 years. The yield will be 60 kg/tree, but in its top season there will be a yield of 240 kg/tree. Other crop types include; timber, fuel, fruit, ornamental, . The {missing data} is used as delicacy . The {missing data} is used as " anti-arthritic activity, " with {missing data} (0% - 0%) as its significant phytochemical. There is inapplicable extracted by no extraction method from the tree's flower yielding 0% - 0% oil. The tree's wood is called Carambola wood and has a density of 550 - 600 kg/m³. Regarding firewood production the tree's growing speed is fast, it's energetic value is 4100 ckal/kg and the wood's drying speed is medium. After 35 years the tree can be totally removed as it reached its commercial and ecological goal. Averrhoa carambola has a lifespan of 40 years.

Environmental limitations

The tree is 6 meters tall with a crown of 5 meters wide. The tree prefers a planting distance of 600 cm and a row distance of 600 cm. It is very fast growing and intolerant to shade. Averrhoa carambola has a shallow root-system and it has symbiotic associations with the Glomus hoi and Glomus intraradices fungi (endo-mycorrhiza). It is not able to fix nitrogen with "any bacteria. The name(s) or string of bacteria include(s) "Sinorhizobium americanum ". The tree's flower-morphology is hermaphroditic and is pollinated by insects. Averrhoa carambola is evergreen and not allelopathic and has no thorns.

Averrhoa carambola thrives in an altitude of 0 to 900 meters above sea-level (tropical). The minimum temperature is 0°C; optimally between 20 - 35°C. The optimal rainfall is 3000 mm/year. Without irrigation the annual rainfall should be between 1500 - 3000mm (L/m²). The optimal soil-pH is between 5.0 - 8.0 in a soil texture of loam. To salt it is intolerant to wind intolerant and to fire intolerant.

Pests and Diseases

Averrhoa carambola is susceptible to the following pests: Dacus dorsalis , Othreis fullonia . And it's susceptible to the following diseases: Damping off , , .

Seed Propagation

Seeds are recalcitrant and can be stored for 1 months. There are approximative 15000 seeds/kg. The seeds can be propagated as followed:

• (1) Store harvested seeds in water or in the fruit at room temperature
• (3) Remove the seeds from cold to a permanent warm temperature.
• (3) Seeds germinate above ground (epigeous)