Tropical & Subtropical Fruits

Uses and composition

Introduction

• Fruits are eaten when fully ripen, processed in to beverages, jellies, jam, squash, vinegar, pickles and wine. The fruits are good source of sugar, protein (0.7 per cent), fat (0.1 per cent) carbohydrates (19.7 per cent), Iron and other minerals. Jamun juice mixed with other fruit juice which is very good for diabetics. The extracts from bark, seeds, leaves and fruits are used against diabetes and also moderately antibacterial.
• Jamun vinegar is good for curing stomach disorder. The fresh bark / stem extract is used for prevention of dysentery by mixing with other concentrate and used as good animal food. The wood (timber) is used for making seating arrangements in railway coaches. The flowers are an important source of honey.
• The genus Syzygium is having about 400 – 500 species of which a few provide edible fruits like

  1. S. Jambos (Rose apple or safed Jamun): The tree is ornamental, the fruits are light yellow – white in colour. The seeds are polyembryonic. It is grown in Assam, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Maharashtra & Gujarat.
     
  2. S. fruitecosum – The trees are suitable for wind break, fruits are edible, small in size.
     
  3. S. Javanica (Water apple): This species is found in South India and West Bengal.
     
  4. S. densiflora – It is used as a root stock for S. cuminii. It is resistant to attack of termites.
     
  5. S. uniflora (Surinam cherry or pitanga cherry): It is small tree bears small sized frits are bright red colour with aromatic flavour.
     
  6. S. zeylanica – Small tree, bears edible fruits in Western ghats of India.