Чёрное саподилла (Diospyros nigra): описание и сорта

Species of tree

Diospyros nigra, the black sapote, is a species of persimmon. Common names include chocolate pudding fruit, black soapapple and (in Spanish) zapote prieto. The tropical fruit tree is native to Mexico, Central America, and Colombia.

Mature trees can grow to over in height and are evergreen. It is frost sensitive but can tolerate light frosts. The leaves are elliptic oblong, tapered at both ends, dark green, glossy and long. Some trees bear only male flowers. Others have both male and female flowers, though some of these are self incompatible. Fruiting takes about 3–4 years from seed and the trees are heavy bearers.

Black sapote fruit are tomato like and measure in diameter, with an inedible skin that turns from olive to a deep yellow green when ripe and a pulp which is white and inedible when unripe but assumes a flavor, color and texture often likened to chocolate pudding when ripe. Fruits usually contain seeds, up to a maximum of 12. Unripe fruits are astringent, caustic, bitter, irritating, and have been used as fish poison in the Philippines.

The range in size of tree and hairiness of leaves; size, shape, seediness, flesh color and sweetness of fruit; and time of fruiting suggest that considerable genetic variability exists. Selections have been made and propagated in the Philippines, Australia, and Florida, USA. Seedless cultivars exist, such as 'Cuevas'.

'Bernicker' (also 'Bernecker') is a prolific producer of nearly spherical, medium to large fruit with few seeds and of superior quality. 'Mossman' has very large, round fruit of medium flavor with high pulp content and few seeds, and is capable of producing up to 450 kg per tree.

'Manilla' and 'Valesca' have few seeds.