Annona squamosa

The aggregate fruit is heart-shaped, round, ovate, or conical, from 2 to 5 inches (5.1-12.7 cm) in diameter and weighs from 4 to 24 oz (113-682 g). The fruit is composed of loosely cohering segments, which project as rounded protuberances and are easily separated when the fruit is ripe. The pulp of green and purplish-red sugar apples is white or creamy white, with a custard-like consistency and sweet, pleasant flavor. There are numerous, small, shiny, dark brown seeds embedded in the pulp. The optimum growing conditions for sugar apple production appear to be temperatures ranging from 73 to 94°F (23-34°C), 70% or higher relative humidity (RH) during flowering and fruit set, non-limiting soil moisture from flowering to harvest, and an extended dry period several months prior to the spring flowering period. Sugar apple trees and fruit production may benefit from wind protection. Properly placed and managed wind-breaks may enhance tree growth, decrease the drying effect of winds, and increase the relative humidity around sugar apple trees. Drought Stress: Sugar apple trees may withstand prolonged dry soil conditions, but do so by reduced growth and shedding leaves to the detriment of fruit development. In general, prolonged drought stress may reduce the percent fruit set, fruit size, and crop yields. Low humidity (<70% RH) during flowering of sugar apple may lead to reduce fruit set. Flood Stress: Sugar apple trees are mostly grown as seedlings, and they are not tolerant of excessively wet or flooded soil conditions. Flooding for as little as 7 to 10 days may result in plant death. Symptoms of flooding stress include leaf chlorosis (yellowing), stunted leaf and shoot growth, leaf wilting and browning, leaf drop, stem dieback, and tree death. Cold Stress: Sugar apple trees are best adapted to warm to hot, frost-free climates. Unprotected young trees are severely damaged or killed at temperatures of 30 to 32°F (0 to –1.0°C). Mature trees may tolerate short periods of 28 to 29°F (~ -2.0°C) without substantial injury but be damaged or killed at temperatures of 26 to 28°C (-2.2 to –3.3°C).