Spondias mombin - Yellow mombin plum

Description and Uses

Spondias mombin (Yellow mombin plum) is a tropical tree from Mexico . It is mainly grown for its fruit crops , which have a medium shelf life. The crop is harvested by ground gathering. It starts flowering after 5 - 6 years. The yield will be 7m stem in 5yrs, but in its top season there will be a yield of 100 kg/tree. Other crop types include; apiculture, cosmetics, edible leave shoot, fodder, fruit, fuel, oil. The fruit shoot is used as minor food . The bark is used as " anti-microbial, anti-rheuma, " with niacit (vitamine B3) (2.7 mg - 2.9 mg/100g) as its significant phytochemical. There is Yellow mombin seed oil extracted by cold pressing from the tree's seed/nut yielding 30% - 32% oil. The tree's wood is called yellow mombin and has a density of 390 - 410 kg/m³. Regarding firewood production the tree's growing speed is fast, it's energetic value is 4500 ckal/kg and the wood's drying speed is medium. After 15 years the tree can be totally removed as it reached its commercial and ecological goal. Spondias mombin has a lifespan of 40 years.

Environmental limitations

The tree is 30 meters tall with a crown of 15 meters wide. The tree prefers a planting distance of 800 cm and a row distance of 800 cm. It is very fast growing and partial shade tolerant. Spondias mombin has a deep root-system and it has symbiotic associations with the Glomus clarum and Glomus mosseae fungi (endo-mycorrhiza). It is not able to fix nitrogen with "any bacteria. The name(s) or string of bacteria include(s) "not applicable ". The tree's flower-morphology is hermaphroditic and is pollinated by bees. Spondias mombin is evergreen and not allelopathic and has no thorns.

Spondias mombin thrives in an altitude of 50 to 2000 meters above sea-level (tropical). The minimum temperature is -1°C; optimally between 17 - 26°C. The optimal rainfall is 3800 mm/year. Without irrigation the annual rainfall should be between 1300 - 5000mm (L/m²). The optimal soil-pH is between 4.0 - 7.0 in a soil texture of clay. To salt it is intolerant to wind intolerant and to fire intolerant.

Pests and Diseases

Spondias mombin is susceptible to the following pests: Atta cephalotes , Drosiphila ampelophila , Drosiphila repleta , Anastrepha mombinpraeoptans . And it's susceptible to the following diseases: Root rot , Blue stain fungi , .

Seed Propagation

Seeds are recalcitrant and can be stored for 27 months. There are approximative 125000 seeds/kg. The seeds can be propagated as followed:

• (2) Soak the seeds overnight in warm water before sowing.
• (3) press the seeds twice its size in the soil soil.
• (1) Store harvested seeds dry at room temperature before chilling period.