Co.3 Sapota : A high yielding hybrid

Co.3 Sapota, a high yielding sapota hybrid that will do well even in dry and marginal lands have been developed by the Scientists at the Horticulture College and Research Institute (HC & RI), Coimbatore. This hybrid is released for commercial cultivation by the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU), Coimbatore. A hybrid between the two popular sapota varieties, Cricket Ball and Vavivalasa, the hybrid yields oblong, ovate and very sweet fruits with pleasant flavour. This new hybrid can be differentiated from other sapota varieties by its oblong-ovate fruits had a higher sugar content than the varieties compared with.

This hybrid had recorded an average annual yield of 157-kg fruits per tree. The hybrid registered a yield increase of 64.03 per cent over its female parent (Cricket Ball), and 61.83 % over the male parent (Vavivalasa). Pests or diseases do not affect it seriously. The hybrid is multiplied by approach grafting on Pala or Khirnee (Manilkara hexandra) rootstock. The hybrid is well suited for growing in the plains of Tamil Nadu. It prefers a warm and moist weather and grows in both dry and humid areas. A coastal climatic condition will an annual rainfall of 1200 to 2500 mm is highly suitable. The optimum temperature is between 11 and 34⁰C. This hybrid can be grown in low rainfall tracts and marginal lands. It can also tolerate moisture stress and can be grown in inundated lands.

For each bearing tree, a dose of 50kg farmyard manure, 750g nitrogen, 750g phosphorus and 1250g potash is recommended per year. The ideal season for planting is June-November. About 400 plants can be accommodated in the high density planting. Copious watering is needed in the early stage of establishment of the young plants. Bearing commences from the fourth year of planting and economic yield starts form the tenth year onwards. In the first three years of planting the crop should not be allowed to bear as the developing flowers and fruits can exhaust the plant. A high-density sapota orchard planted with this hybrid has potential to yield 40 to 50 tonnes of fruits per hectare every year. February to June and September October are the peak season of harvest. The mature fruits are dull brown, and they should be plucked by hand. To enhance ripening, the fruits should be kept in airtight chamber along with 0.5ml ethrel dissolved in one litre of water.