User:Alex Lululu/sandbox

"Annona reticulata is a small deciduous or semi-evergreen tree in the plant family Annonaceae” and part of the Annonas group.

Climate
The tree grows optimally in tropic conditions, but nowadays it is also spread in the subtropical regions. Annona Reticulata requires humid conditions (medium to high rainfall). Compared to the other Annonas, it is less drought tolerant. The annual temperature necessary ranges from 17 to 27°C. It tolerates light night frosts to -2°C. The Annona Reticulata grows on many soils types with pH ranging from 5 to 8. It does not tolerate waterlogging or when the water table is too high

Cultivation
Seeds can be propagated. Other techniques are grafting and budding (Forkert Method, T-silt, patch-budding) for the cultivation of the Annona Reticulata. The tree produces 45 kg of fruits per year. In Asia, the season is from July to September, as in the Caribbean it runs from February to April

Uses
The custard apple can be eaten raw, out of hand as a fresh fruit. It is not as good as the sugar apple or the cherimoya. It can also be prepared as juices, ice-cream or puddings. In India, it is cooked into a sauce. The leaves and the branches can be used for tanning as they contain blue pigments. Wrappers, ornaments and hats can be made from the inner bark. The wood is soft and can be used to make utensiles, even though, it is weak and of bad quality.

Nutritional Values
The custard apple is a good source of vitamin C. It contains 19.2 mg/100g, while an apple only contains 4.6 mg/100g. It also contains Thiamine (B1), Riboflavin (B2), Niacin (B3), Panthothenic acid (B5) and vitamin B6. The following minerals are present in the custard apple as well: calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium. It is a high-calorie fruit (between 75 and 100 cal/100gr) compared to an average apple (50cal/100gr).

Prosepcts
The Annona Reticulata could be grown as a home garden plant, even though it is not as popular as the sugar apple (A. squamosa). It has value as rootstock for superior Annona species such as the sugar apple, especially under humid conditions. It is also a genetic resource for hybridization.

Risk and Impact
The Annona Reticulata is known to be an invasive plant. A PIER risk assessment gave a score of 11 for the Annona Reticulata. It impacts negatively the population cultivating the crop as all parts of the tree (except the fruit) are toxic, causing problems of human health. .

Diseases and Pests
The diseases that can spread to the Annona Reticulata include the Anthracnose, the leaf spot, the diplodia rot and the black canker. The spiral nematode, the stunt nematode and the mealybug can also infect the plant