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Mangosteen is regarded as 'queen of tropical
fruits' with unlimited export marker because of
being a health fruit. One of the few fruit trees
that do not require spraying against pests and
disease is Mangosteen. This is because no serious
pests and diseases have been observed to attack this
tree. Borers sometimes attack the fruit but because
of its thick rind, the borers do not reach the
edible portion.
Mangosteen is often sold as P120 per kilo, and since
there is not much competition, the price does not
usually drop during the peak season. This also
yields bountiful harvest. As Dr. Pablito Pamplona of
the University of Southern Mindanao says, there are
mangosteen trees that yield about 200 to 300 kilos
per tree.
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Its fruit is also a genuine
health food since every 100 grams of it contains up to
19 milligrams of potassium, 7 mg of sodium and calcium,
4.2 mg of Vitamin C, 4 mg of Phosphorus, 1 mg of iron,
and several mg of Vitamin B1, Vitamin B2 and Niacin
(Manila Bulletin, Nov. 13, 1999).
Mangosteen
should be planted in areas with 70% shade (or more) or
in between shade of other fruit and forest trees.
The leaves
are easily sun-scorched, and that damages the green
chlorophyll.
In areas with limited space, grafted mangosteen,
which needs only little space, can be planted. As a
decorative plant, a grafted mangosteen can be planted on
big pots and can serve as an indoor plant.
To maximize the production per unit area, grafted
mangosteen can be planted in between plants with shade.
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