Growth, yield and scion-rootstock interaction effects of the custard apple in south-east Queensland

Abstract

The growth and yield of African Pride and Pink's Mammoth custard apple cultivars were evaluated for two rootstocks under the subtropical environment of south-east Queensland. The African Pride cultivar was a much more precocious bearer than Pink's Mammoth. In the sixth year after planting, the mean marketable yields for African Pride were 18.7 t/ha on cherimoyer rootstock and 9.2 t/ha on sugar apple. In comparison, the Pink's Mammoth cultivar produced 7.2 t/ha on cherimoyer rootstock and 6.2 t/ha on sugar apple. The experiment demonstrated that satisfactory yields can be obtained with the African Pride cultivar without the need for hand pollination.