CUSTARD APPLE (AATHA CHAKKA)

INTRODUCTION TO LESSER KNOWN

VEGETABLES AND FRUIT SPECIES OF KERALA

VOL. 12

COMMON NAME:-   CUSTARD APPLE

OTHER NAMES:

BULLOCK’S HEART,

ramphal,

sugar apple,

sweetsop,

anon,

coeur de boeuf,

                             coracao de boi,

                             Corazon,

Kasjoema,

                             chirimoya roia,

boeah nona,

                             anona rosada,

mammon,

                             anona de seso,

                             Araticum ape,

                             Jamaica apple,

                             Cachiman,

Alacalyoua.

BOTANIC NAME: -       Annona reticulata 

MALAYALAM NAME: -  AATHA,

                                AATHA CHAKKA.  

CUSTARD APPLE

The Custard apple  is believed to be native of the West Indies.

Custard apple plant is a perennial, erect, slender, and medium-sized with many branches and grows up to a height of 2-3 meters. The leaves are ill-smelling and deciduous. 

  Flowers, in drooping clusters, are fragrant, slender, with 3 outer fleshy, narrow petals 2 to 3 cm long pale-yellow in colour. The flowers never fully open.  

Annona reticulata leaves

Fruits with sweet custard-like pulp are from 10 to 15 cm  in diameter with a lumpy green skin and upon maturity the fruit has a red skin. 

  

NUTRITIVE VALUE:-

The Nutritional composition per 100g of  Custard apple  :
Energy    310 - 420kJ,
Protein      1 - 4.3g,
Carbohydrate      23.71g,
Calories         76 - 96cal,
Vitamin B1   0.05 - 0.08mg,
Vitamin B2  0.08 - 0.1mg,
Vitamin B3  0.5 - 0.8mg ,
 Vitamin A     1mg,
Vitamin C      22 - 43mg ,
Natural Sugar     14 - 18g ,
Iron    0.7mg,
Zinc     0.2 - 2.6mg,
 Magnesium     32 - 80mg,
 Copper    2.4mg,
 Potassium    250 - 570mg,
 Sodium      4 - 14mg,
 Calcium     17 - 22mg,

 Fibre          1 - 3.2g .       

MEDICINAL VALUE:-

Custard apples contain anti-oxidants like Vitamin C, which helps to fight free radicals in our body.
 Presence of potassium and magnesium  protects  heart from cardiac disease.It also controls  blood pressure.
Vitamin A  keeps our skin and hair healthy.
The copper content helps to cure constipation, and helps to treat diarrhoea and dysentery.

Annona reticulata Seedling

FOOD VALUE:-

The matured fruits have a custard like white pulp with small black seeds and the sweet flesh is eaten fresh or used for milkshakes and ice creams.

METHOD OF CULTIVATION:-

 

The custard apple plant can easily establish by  seed. Seed can be sown either directly or in containers. No seed treatment is required. 

Annona reticulata leaf