Sapota

Sapota/sapodilla (Manilkara zapota (L.) P. Royen; family, Sapotaceae) is one of the introduced fruit crops to India. It has gained importance due to its wide acceptability and usage. This chapter provides its origin, distribution, the related species, and taxonomical aspects of diversity. In India it is mainly cultivated in Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana. As it was initially multiplied as seedlings, little diversity was observed; few useful selections were made by the scientists/horticulturists for cultivation in various parts. Later some efforts were made toward crop improvement with the results of few hybrids that were developed. However, though the crop is known to be hardy with fewer problems, in the recent years, some cultivation problems have been observed. It is observed that there are very few institutions working on the germplasm and improvement. These issues are listed and the need for future research has been discussed.