Mangosteen fruit

Mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana L.) is a kind of perennial green tree from tropical region believed to come from Indonesia. It grows up to 7 to 25 meters. The fruit is also called mangosteen, red-purplish when mature, although there are also variants whose skin is red.

Mangosteen is apomixis obligat, seed is not derived from fertilization and is suspected to have a narrow genetic diversity, so it is estimated that the mangosteen in nature is only one clone and is the same as its parent. The fact in the field indicates the diversity of mangosteen plants that may be due to environmental factors as well as genetic factors due to natural mutations in line with the history of mangosteen plants that have been thousands of years old. The young mangosteen fruit, which does not require fertilization to grow, will first be pale green or almost white under the canopy. When the fruit is enlarged for 2 to 3 months ahead, the color of the skin will be dark green. In this period, the growth of fruit size may increase until the skin measures 6-8 cm (2.4-3.1 inches) in outside diameter, will remain loud until the final maturation arrives.

The chemical properties of the lower surface of the mangosteen's skin consist of various polyphenols, including xanthones and tannins that ensure astringent can inhibit the attention of insects, fungi, plant viruses, bacteria and animal predators, when the fruit is immature. The discoloration and softening of the skin becomes a natural process that shows the maturation of the fruit can be eaten and the seed has finished developing.