MANGOSTEEN : BOTANIC, PROPAGATION, PLANTING AND UTILIZATION

The mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana L.) is a fruit species native from Southeast Asia and was introduced in Brazil for over 100 years. However, the first orchards only were implanted in 1980. At present, it is cultivated in the States of Par, Bahia, Espirito Santo and Sao Paulo. The area planted with the species in Brazil is 370 ha. It is medium-sized tree, with a height of 8-10 m and diameter of the trunk 25-35 cm. The leaves are opposite whole with short petioles. The mangosteen tree require warm and humid climate, with rainfall well distributed throughout the year. It is propagated by seed or grafting but plants grow faster when grown from seeds. The seeds are nucellar and have recalcitrant behavior in storage. Plants propagated by seeds produce the first fruits to eight years of age, while grafted plants start production four years after planting. The mangosteen is consumed as fresh fruit, but in recent years have emerged in the market several products porcessed with the pericarp and the edible portion. The pericarp is rich in xanthones, a group of substances with high power antioxidant.