Many consumers of soursop are disappointed because the moisture in the atmosphere has promoted the development of a fungus that sickens the soursop tree.
This tropical fruit and its leaves have become very popular on the island because of their health benefits, as they allegedly have properties that help fight cancer, among other things.
According to the agronomist Jose L. Zamora Echevarria, a specialist in this fruit, the fruit and leaf of this tropical tree may be affected by the anthracnose fungus, which arises as a result of excessive moisture.
"There is more moisture when it rains a lot, and this fungus thrives when there is much humidity," he said. The fungus affects the soursop in two ways: the fruit became mummified, as the fruit turns black, falls, and stops developing; and secondly, a black stain can appear on its shell during any part of its development, and the fruit will rot once it's mature. The leaves, he said, develop a dark brown or black stain.
This tree bears fruit almost all year but it is mainly harvested between October and February, and in the summer. Puerto Rico, however, has very few organized plantings; only 11 to 15 in the south of the island, from Isabela to Santa Isabel, as they are dry areas, the expert said. They also occur in the wild and in places that were once used for fencing cattle. In addition, some people have chosen to plant this tree in their home gardens.
Its production is not commercial. That is to say, is a second class fruit, stated agronomist Luis R. Santiago Santos, because people haven't paid much attention to it. For example, there is not enough scientific research to boost its large-scale development.
This scenario does not favor consumers who are looking for this fruit, which is currently trending, as it's supposed to have properties that help fight cancer, even though there is no scientific evidence to validate this statement, stated Zamora Echevarria, who is also a professor of Agricultural Sciences at the University of Puerto Rico (UPR).
"Still, there are many who put their faith in this fruit," he said. Everyone is looking for ways to prevent cancer. Word gets around and everyone is looking for soursop. Many people want to have a soursop tree at their house so they can consume it and benefit from the fruit," said Santiago Santos.
Zamora Echevarria recommended using copper based fungicides or home-made pesticides, which can be prepared with baking soda and dish soap, to prevent the tree from getting the fungus. "It's about preventing, not remedying, because it reduces the incidence of this fungus," he said.
Source: primerahora.com