Eugenia stipitata

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Eugenia stipitata, commonly known as arazá, araçá, or araçá-boi, is a fruit tree from the western Amazon rainforest (Brazil, Colombia, Peru and Ecuador). It grows as a shrub or small tree 2.5–15 meters tall and has a smooth, brownish bark. The fruit is a round berry, 2–10 cm across, with a thin green-to-yellow skin. Inside is a juicy, very acidic pulp that often contains about a dozen seeds. The fruit is climacteric, meaning it ripens with a burst of activity in the fruit’s respiration, and it can produce 2–4 harvests per year in some conditions. If left on the tree to mature, its post-harvest life is short (about 3 days).

Eating, processing and uses
- The fresh fruit is very tart and is usually eaten with sugar or used to make juices, nectars, marmalades, ice creams and other products.
- It is valued for its strong acidity, which makes it good for processing. The fruit’s pulp is aromatic and rich in sugars after sweetening.

Nutrients and chemistry
- The fruit is known for very high vitamin C content, and it also provides vitamin A and B1. It contains nitrogen and potassium, and its oil has antioxidant compounds, with germacrene B as a major component.
- Ethanol extracts from the fruit have shown antimutagenic properties, suggesting possible health benefits.

Origin, cultivation and land use
- Arazá originated in the western Amazon and is found mainly on old, non-flooded terraces in tropical soils. It has been cultivated in parts of Peru, Colombia, Brazil and Ecuador, and has spread to other tropical regions, including Bolivia and Malaysia, where it is grown as an exotic or small-scale crop.
- The tree is useful for agroforestry, shade cultivation, and land rehabilitation. It can be intercropped with annual crops in the first years of growth.

Propagation, growth and care
- Propagated mainly by seed. Seeds are recalcitrant (not good for long storage) and germinate best when taken from fully mature fruits.
- Seed beds should be kept in shade; sow about 2 cm apart and barely cover the seeds. Germination can take up to 80 days but can reach high rates under good conditions.
- Seedlings are raised in bags (a year or so) with a soil-manure mix, then transplanted to the final site. Spacing is commonly 3 x 3 meters.
- Organic fertilizer and manure are generally more effective for fruit production than chemical fertilizers.

Harvest, production and challenges
- Fruit is produced year-round, with several harvests possible per year. Harvesting criteria are similar to other small tropical fruits (size and color, with texture as a secondary factor).
- Post-harvest life is short if the fruit is left to ripen on the tree or after picking. The fruit is susceptible to damage and disease after harvest.
- The species is still in early domestication. Improvements in appearance, color, aroma, taste, transportability and storage are needed to help wider market adoption.
- Pest and disease pressures include fruit flies, weevils, a brow-beetle that eats buds and flowers, a black bee that damages fruit, and anthracnose fungal disease. Effective pest management is important for commercial production.