than the canistel seed and the same age young mamey and time of the year for
of the year for grafting, all affect the grafting
sapote seedlings are much larger and more vigorous than
young seedling plants of canistel. Approaches done when
the mamey sapote scion is larger than the rootstock result
in the scion outgrowing the rootstock (Fig. 2).
Roots formed at the graft unions of the mamey sapote
scions when the scions were considerably larger than the
rootstocks (Fig. 3, 4). Roots do form on rare occasions with
veneer grafts of mamey sapote scions on mamey sapote root-
stocks under field conditions (Pablo Lara, pers. comm.).
When the grafts were over 6 months old, some of the root-
stocks with oversized scions abruptly shriveled and died,
leaving a living scion. After 1-2 weeks the mamey sapote
scions showed slow wilt and died. The problem appeared
to be water stress, when the mamey sapote scion was too
large and vigorous. In other studies when mamey sapote
scions were approach grafted to mamey sapote rootstocks,
the leaves transpired more water than the roots could supply,
even when the leaves were trimmed to 1/4 the original size
(2). The approach graft combinations were successful when
closely matched in stem diameter.
Maturity of the budwood, ratio of stock/scion diameter
Proc. Fla. State Hort. Soc. 93:136-140. 1980.
GROWING AND FRUITING THE LANGSAT IN FLORIDA
William F. Whitman
Rare Fruit Council International,
189 Bal Bay Drive,
Bal Harbour, FL 33154
Abstract. The langsat (Lansium domesticum, Jack), a
member of the mohogany family, is widely planted in the
Asiatic tropics for its fruit. Many horticulturists considered
the tree too tropical to grow in Florida. The writer planted
two langsats in the mid-fifties that ultimately fruited. Adverse
winter weather can cause over 90% defoliation in bearing
size trees followed by a rapid spring recovery. Fruiting in
Florida normally occurs from August through October,
though in one variety it continues on into spring. A corky
bark disease on the trunk and larger limbs of mature trees
is thought to be caused by a fungus canker (Cephalosporium
sp.) with larvae (Tineidae sp.) feeding on the diseased tissue.
The langsat requires a neutral to acid soil and a near frost-
free climate, a combination seldom found in South Florida.
The langsat (Lansium domesticum, Jack), a fruit of the
Asiatic tropics is widely grown in Malaysia, Indonesia,
Thailand and the Philippines. Yet few people are aware
that under the most favorable conditions it is possible to
grow and fruit this member of the Meliaceae in South
Florida. Popenoe wrote "While it cannot be said to rival
the mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana, L.), the langsat is
considered one of the best fruits of the Malayan region."
(6). Seeds of the langsat were introduced into Florida many
decades ago without apparent success as far as establishing
bearing size trees. Popenoe stated "Experiments indicate
that it is not suitable for cultivation in Florida or Cali
fornia, the climate of both states probably being too cold
for it." (6). Many horticulturists agreed with this noted
writer and considered this fruit, along with the mango
steen and rambutan (Nephelium lappaceum, L.), both of
which have now also fruited here, unsuited to even Florida's
warmest areas.
136
success of mamey sapote. Mature budwood is much more
difficult to graft than with juvenile budwood on either
older or younger rootstocks. Juvenile budwood appears to
live much longer and shows faster healing than mature
tissue. Although more research needs to be done, canistel
shows potential as a rootstock for mamey sapote. Veneer
grafting is preferable to approach grafting for commercial
propagation under Florida conditions, because approach
grafting is cumbersome and takes much longer to form a
graft union.
Literature Cited
1. Campbell, C. W. 1967. The mamey sapote in southern Florida.
Proc. Fla. State Hort. Soc. 80:318-320.
2. Malo, Simon E. 1970. Propagation of the mamey sapote. Proc. Trop.
Reg. Amer. Hort. Soc. 14:165-174.
3. Phillips, R. L., S. E. Malo and C. W. Campbell. 1979. The mamey
sapote. Fruit Crops Fact Sheet No. 30. Fla. Coop. Ext. Ser., IFAS,
Univ. of Fla., Gainesville.
4. Sauls, Julian and C. W. Campbell. 1980. The canistel. Fruit
Crops Fact Sheet No. 61. Fla. Coop. Ext. Ser., IFAS, Univ. of
Fla., Gainesville.
In the mid-1950's the writer set out two vegetatively
propagated five foot langsats at his experimental fruit
grove in Bal Harbour. This planting site, located be
tween Biscayne Bay and the Atlantic Ocean, is just south
of Haulover Inlet. It is an area in North Dade County
that tends to be windy with some winter vegetative salt
damage, but warm enough to seldom experience frost. The
growing medium was a black acid sandy loam trucked in to
replace an unsuitably high pH. existing bay bottom marl
fill. The plants were protected in the grove from excessive
sun and wind by cubical shade cloth covered structures.
These reduced sunlight by over 50%. An assumption of
the grower was that the langsat in Florida would require
shade screen protection throughout its life, partly because
of the low relative humidity during the winter. As the
trees grew larger and taller new structures replaced existing
ones. Further size increases became impracticable when the
enclosures reached a 16 ft. height with the trees inside
requiring additional space. At this point the overhead shade
cloth was removed from the top of the structures. Several
months later the remaining four sides of shade screen with
the supporting beams were taken down without ill effects
to the previously enclosed trees. Later it was found that
after the langsat reaches six to eight feet in height shade is
no longer required under this site's growing conditions.
However the removal of shade should be done gradually if
shock to the plant is to be avoided. Shrub type sprinkler
heads irrigated the langsats three times a week unless rain
prevailed. A 6-6-6 fertilizer with minor elements was applied
three times a year.
In Florida the langsat makes a small, upright, sparsely
leafed tree with an open type growth. During the winter
adverse weather can cause over 90% leaf drop in mature
trees. This is quickly replaced by new growth (Fig. 1) with
the return of spring. Such defoliation is injurious to im
mature trees as they can suffer severe die-back under these
conditions. The pinnate leaves vary from less than a foot
in length to 20 inches. These have 5 to 8 alternately spaced
Proc. Fla. State Hort. Soc. 93: 1980.
 Fig. 1. Langsat (Lansium domesticum) leafing out in spring after being defoliated by winter cold.
leaflets 4 inches to 10 inches long by 2 inches to 5 inches
wide. The numerous small pale yellow perfect flowers are
born on racemes that protrude from the trunk and larger
branches. Flowering in Florida occurs in the spring with
intermittent bloom extending on one variety into early
winter. Fruit ripen in late August thru October while in
the variety with prolonged flowering from August thru
April. Whether or not this off-season bearing will continue
remains to be seen. In Puerto Rico Kennard and Winters
report langsats in season during September and October
(3), while Allen in Malaya states "Both langsat and duku
Proc. Fla. State Hort. Soc. 93: 1980.
(Photo by Wm. F. Whitman).
usually bear twice a year." (1). The fruit appear in com
pact grape-like clusters (Fig. 2), are straw-colored, velvety,
round to oval, up to 1 y4 inches in diameter in Florida with
a thin leathery skin. Inside are five segments varying in
size of juicy, subacid, translucent pulp with one or more
seeds. Usually not all the seeds are fully developed. Sizes of
individual fruit in each bunch frequently vary considerably
with the largest locally produced weighing % oz (21 grams).
A color photo of a Florida grown langsat fruiting appears on
the front cover of the Rare Fruit Council International
1979 Yearbook. The skin of the fruit contains a white, sticky
137
 Fig. 2. Thai 'Uttaradit' langsat variety fruiting in Dade County.
bitter latex that can adhere to the mouth and fingers when
the langsat is eaten. Dipping the ripe fruit bunch in boiling
water for a few seconds coagulates the sap and eliminates
this problem. The green seeds, if accidentally bitten into,
are extremely bitter.
Two langsat varieties introduced by the writer into
South Florida and later fruited in his grove are the 'Concep
tion' and the 'Uttaradit'. The 'Conception' was obtained
from the Philippine Plant Industry in 1956 as a grafted
plant. In these Asiatic islands the langsat is highly re
garded and goes under the name "lanzone". The scionwood
of this Philippine clone was collected from the famous
sweet variety of lanzones in a barrio named Conception, of
138
(Photo by Wm. F. Whitman).
Talisay, Negros Occ. First bloom appeared on the above
grafted plant in 1976 without fruit set. No further flower
ing occurred until the spring of 1979, probably due to cold
damage during the 1977 January freeze. This second bloom
produced a crop of quality fruit that is thought to be of
superior size and flavor. The tree is presently 18 feet high
with an 11 foot spread, growing in full sun.
The langsat variety 'Uttaradit' was introduced from
Thailand in 1957. The variety takes its name from a
province N.W. of Bangkok where langsats grow in
abundance. First fruiting of this marcotted plant occurred
in October 1975 when the partially shaded tree had obtained
a height of 15 feet. This event marked what is thought to
Proc. Fla. State Hort. Soc. 93: 1980.
be the first instance of the langsat bearing on the
Continental U.S.A. For the last two years the tree has had
a prolonged fruiting season extending from August thru
April. One possible explanation for this could be the nearly
complete girdling of the base of the trunk by the 1977
freeze.
The langsat can be propagated from seed, cuttings,
marcots and grafts. Seeds soon lose their viability and
should be planted as soon as possible. Select and use only
the largest as germination and initial growth rate are re
lated to seed size. A soil fungicide such as Banrot will
insure better germination and prevent damping off. Cuttings
can be rooted under mist or by potting up and covering
over with clear plastic bags. Short, actively growing tip
cuttings about 3 inches to 4 inches long are preferred.
Marcots, especially those taken from pot grown plants in
Fig. 3. Corky bark disease on langsat thought to be caused by a fungus canker (Cephalosporium sp.). (Photo by Wm. F. Whitman).
Proc. Fla. State Hort. Soc. 93: 1980.
a greenhouse with s/s inch limb diameter or larger are easy
to root. Regular grafts can be made while approach grafts
seldom fail. Plants grown from seed should be grafted to
shorten the length of time required to bear.
Young plants, in the writer's greenhouse, have been
observed to exude a clear, sweet-tasting liquid. This occurs
in areas of rapid growth at the base of developing langsat
leaf petioles. Small black nectar-eating ants are attracted to
this and can become a nuisance. Occasional scale have been
observed on developing fruit of the 'Uttaradit' variety but
not elsewhere on the tree. A corky bark disease appeared
on the trunk and larger limbs (Fig. 3) as the langsat trees
matured in the writer's grove. This same problem has been
observed by the writer on langsats grown on Florida's Big
Pine Key near Key West, on a langsat planted at the Uni
versity of Hawaii Kona Branch Experiment Station on the
139
Island of Hawaii and on a specimen tree cultivated in
Tahiti, French Oceania. The disease is thought to be
caused by a fungus canker (Cephalosporium sp.) with
larvae (Tineidae sp.) under the affected bark feeding on
the dead material (5). Various attempts at control have
proved unsuccessful. The corky, loose bark can be removed
but this only gives temporary relief. It has been observed
to be more severe under shaded growing conditions than
in full sunlight. The same rough flaking bark symptoms
have also appeared on the rambai (Baccaurea motleyana,
Hook), another tropical fruit tree growing in the writer's
collection.
The langsat is easily damaged by cold. During the 1977
January freeze the writer's two largest langsat trees were
nearly girdled by the low temperature. Wrapping the
trunk from the ground up to a height of three or four
feet with an insulating material could have prevented this
injury. In Puerto Rico Almeyda and Martin report grafted
langsat trees bearing before their eighth year (4). In
Florida the 'Uttaradit' variety took 18 years to fruit or over
twice as long. The 'Conception' variety was even slower to
bear. This is because of the adverse winter weather in
Florida during which the plants make little growth, no
growth or even experience die-back. Almeyda and Martin
state "It (the langsat) will not tolerate extremely alkaline
soils." They suggest one that is slightly acid to neutral (4).
Unfortunately the warmest areas in South Florida, as one
approaches the coastline, nearly always have highly alkaline
soils. This means that a low to neutral pH. growing
medium would have to be provided for this tropical fruit
to succeed in such climatically favorable areas.
The langsat is seldom found in Florida rare fruit
collections. Its distribution has been severely limited by
this Asiatic fruit's special soil requirements, its susceptibility
to cold and the prolonged time taken for it to fruit. Rare
Fruit Council International member Adolf Grimal has
Proc. Fla. State Hort. Soc. 93:140-143. 1980.
CONSUMER ACCEPTANCE OF MUSCADINE GRAPES
Robert L. Degner and Kary Mathis
University of Florida, IFAS,
Food and Resource Economics Department,
Gainesville, Florida 32611
Additional index words. Muscadine grapes, consumer
preferences, retail produce.
Abstract. The fresh market potential for muscadine
grapes was evaluated with an in-store sales test, and
through consumers interviews in Tampa, Florida in late
August and early September, 1979. Bronze muscadine grape
sales averaged about 13 pounds per store per day and
purple sales about 12 pounds. Sales compared favorably
with sales of red seedless and black seeded grapes, both of
which were priced slightly higher than the muscadine
varieties. The sample of muscadine purchasers had a sig
nificantly higher proportion of black consumers than did the
sample of non-muscadine grape purchasers. Eighty-seven
percent of the muscadine grape purchasers said they would
buy them again. Consumers liked the taste of muscadines
but cHticized the tough skin and presence of seeds.
iFlorida Agricultural Experiment Station Journal Series No. 2716.
140
grown the langsat on Big Pine Key to a height of 25 feet
by using low pH. Florida mainland soils. They would not
survive on the existing indigenous Florida Key's marl and
limestone soils. Carl W. Campbell in referring to langsats
set out in the fields of the Agricultural Research and
Education Center (formerly Sub-Tropical Experiment
Station) at Homestead stated "The plants did not grow well
in the limestone soil here. They made poor growth and
were chlorotic. Ultimately all of the plants died, some
evidently as a result of poor adaptation to the soil and
some as a result of cold injury during the winters of the
1950's and early 1960's." (2).
The duku, with the same botanical name as the langsat,
is usually preferred to the langsat because of the superior
quality of its fruit. The santol (Sandoricum koetjape,
Merrill), a closely related fruit in the same family as the
langsat, appears to have a better future in South Florida.
This is because vegetatively propagated santols can fruit
in only a few years, are slightly more tolerant to cold
weather and will survive on higher pH. Florida soils. In
spite of its limitations the writer has found considerable
pleasure in meeting the challenge of growing and fruiting
the langsat in Florida. What's more this exotic fruit is
quite good to eat!
Literature Cited
1. Allen, B. M. 1967. Malayan Fruits. Donald Moore Press Ltd.,
Singapore, p. 104.
2. Campbell, C. W. 1980. Unpublished correspondence.
3. Kennard, W. C. and H. F. Winters. 1960. Some Fruits and Nuts
for the Tropics. U.S. Dept. Agr. Misc. Publ. 801, p. 78.
4. Martin, F. W. and N. Almeyda. 1977. Cultivation of Neglected
Tropical Fruits with Promise. Part 4. The Lanson U. S. Dept. Act.
ARS-S-171, p. 7 & p. 14.
5. Plant Pathology Specimen Reports 1970. Fla. Dept. Agr., Div. of
Plant Ind., Gainesville.
6. Popenoe, W. 1920. Manual of Tropical and Subtropical Fruits.
Macmillan Company, New York, p. 426 & p. 428.
Introduction
Research by the Florida Agricultural Experiment
Stations has resulted in development of a number of grape
varieties adopted to Florida growing conditions (2). The de
velopment of suitable varieties has stimulated interest in
commercial grape production. Total acreage is currently
estimated at 300 to 400 acres, equally divided between bunch
and muscadine varieties.
Until recent seasons, most production has been marketed
directly to consumers through Pick-Your-Own outlets. In
early 1979, grape growers felt that production would soon
exceed the quantities that could be absorbed by PYO outlet
customers. Growers expressed a need for market research
to explore the feasibility of marketing a portion of their
production through retail food stores. Muscadine grapes
were chosen rather than bunch grapes because they are
native to the southeastern United States and probably offer
greater immediate production potential due to the greater
availability of adapted varieties. Further, they are harvested
as single berries and growers were interested in consumer
acceptance of the product relative to the more familiar
bunch grape.
Proc. Fla. State Hort. Soc. 93: 1980.