Download Makopa (Syzygium spp.)

1
VICARP R & D INFORMATION SHEETS
Printed with official permission from PCARRD, the PROSEA representative in the Philippines
Sources of Information:
Plant Resources of South-East Asia (PROSEA)
Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry & Natural Resources Research & Development (PCARRD)
University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB)
Department of Agriculture (Batangas Provincial Office)
MAKOPA
(Syzygium spp.)
The backyard of typical Filipino homes often
showcases an interesting array of plants. Found in
these backyards are vegetable gardens, ornamental
plants, flowers, and fruit trees like “tambis” (S.
aqueum) and related species such as “makopang kalabaw”
(S. malaccense), and the more popular “makopa” (S.
samarangense).
These trees presumably originated in Southeast Asia
particularly in Indonesia and Malaysia. At present it is
grown in India, through SouthEast Asia to the Pacific
Islands.
Description
The tambis tree is 3-10 m tall and has a short trunk with a diameter of 30-50 cm. It produces branches in the lower
portion of the trunk and a canopy that is irregular in shape. The leaves are opposite, oblong and aromatic when
bruised.
Its flowers develop in groups on the shoot tips and axis. There are three to seven yellow white flowers per group.
The tambis fruit is fleshy, colored white, red, pink, or green, very juicy, and less aromatic than the other species. The
seed is small and rounded.
On the other hand, the makopang kalabaw tree is big, growing 5-10 m tall with a straight trunk that is 20-45 cm in
diameter. The branches develop near the base of the trunk and the canopy is oblong. The leaves are opposite, eggshaped to oblong, and thick.
Its flowers develop in groups with 1-12 flowers per group. The oblong-shaped petals are dark red in color.
Makopang kalabaw fruit is fleshy and is dark red or purplish-yellow or yellow-white. Its white thick juice flesh is
juicy and fragrant with only one brown, rounded seed per fruit.
The popular makopa tree is big, reaching 5-15 m tall with a trunk 20-50 cm in diameter. The branches develop from
the lower portion of the trunk and produce a canopy with irregular shape. Like the tambis, makopa leaves are
opposite, egg-shaped to oblong, and strongly aromatic when bruised.
The flowers develop in groups from the shoot tips and axils. Each group has 3-30 flowers which bear yellow-white
petals.
Makopa fruits is fleshy and light red to white in color. It is spongy, juicy, aromatic and has a sweet-sour taste. Each
fruit produces from zero to two seeds with rounded shape.
The tree grows rather rapidly from seedlings and starts to bear fruit three to seven years after planting. Clones start
to flower in three to five years.
2
VICARP R & D INFORMATION SHEETS
Printed with official permission from PCARRD, the PROSEA representative in the Philippines
Sources of Information:
Plant Resources of South-East Asia (PROSEA)
Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry & Natural Resources Research & Development (PCARRD)
University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB)
Department of Agriculture (Batangas Provincial Office)
Growth is influenced by climate and proceeds periodically by flushing. There are two to three flowering seasons
which vary according to climate.
Makopang kalabaw flowers when wet weather follows a dry period.
Uses
The ripe fruits of each species are mainly eaten fresh. They may be used in fruit salads or preserved by pickling. It
has been reported that the bark, leaves, and roots of makopang kalabaw are used against different ailments.
Furthermore, the wood of makopa and makopang kalabaw can be used for construction purposes.
Soil and Climatic Requirements
The tree grow productively in fairly moist tropical lowlands up to an elevation of 1,200 m. Makopang kalabaw
grows best in a wet environment while tambis and makopa are highly adaptable in areas with a fairly long dry
season. The trees prefer heavy soils and need a reliable water supply that is quite a problem if they are grown in light
deep soils.
Cultural Management
Propagation. Seeds may propagate the trees although sometimes the seeds are abortive or some tambis fruits are
seedless. They can also be propagated asexually by air layering, cuttings, or budding. Air layering is commonly used
in Southeast Asia and budding is performed using the modified Forkert technique. All types of Syzygium can be
used as rootstock although Eugenia densiflora is used in Java.
Planting. Since these species are big trees, plant them at relatively wide spacing ranging from 5-7 m for tambis, 6-8
m for makopang kalabaw and 8-10 m for makopa.
Fertilization. The trees are not well attended but they grow rapidly when given fertilizer. Apply compound fertilizer
after harvest and as soon as the inflorescence are being formed.
Maintenance. Watering, mulching, and weeding promote rapid growth. Pests and diseases attack the trees but there
appears to no specific recommendation against them.
Harvesting
A five-year-old makopa tree could produce 700 fruits per tree while a makopang kalabaw tree could give 20-85 kg
per tree. Tambis and makopa ripen in 30-40 days while makopang kalabaw ripens in 60 days after floral opening.
Harvest the fruits carefully to avoid bruises and other injuries on their skin. The fruits can be harvested by hand
picking, usually done twice a week. Consume or preserve the fruits within a few days after harvest.
Source:
PROSEA Leaflet No. 71
ISBN 971-20-0259-4