Research directed by C. Daehler (UH Botany) with funding from the Kaulunani Urban Forestry Program and US Forest Service

Information on Risk Assessments
Original risk assessment

Spondias dulcis (Spondias cytheria; amberella, golden apple, jew plum, Wi-tree, Otaheite apple)

Answer

1.01

Is the species highly domesticated?

y=-3, n=0

n

1.02

Has the species become naturalized where grown?

y=-1, n=-1

n

1.03

Does the species have weedy races?

y=-1, n=-1

n

2.01

Species suited to tropical or subtropical climate(s) (0-low; 1-intermediate; 2-high) – If island is primarily wet habitat, then substitute “wet tropical” for “tropical or subtropical”

See Append 2

2

2.02

Quality of climate match data (0-low; 1-intermediate; 2-high) see appendix 2

2

2.03

Broad climate suitability (environmental versatility)

y=1, n=0

n

2.04

Native or naturalized in regions with tropical or subtropical climates

y=1, n=0

y

2.05

Does the species have a history of repeated introductions outside its natural range? y=-2

?=-1, n=0

y

3.01

Naturalized beyond native range y = 1*multiplier (see Append 2), n= question 2.05

n

3.02

Garden/amenity/disturbance weed y = 1*multiplier (see Append 2)

n=0

n

3.03

Agricultural/forestry/horticultural weed y = 2*multiplier (see Append 2)

n=0

n

3.04

Environmental weed y = 2*multiplier (see Append 2)

n=0

n

3.05

Congeneric weed y = 1*multiplier (see Append 2)

n=0

y

4.01

Produces spines, thorns or burrs

y=1, n=0

n

4.02

Allelopathic

y=1, n=0

n

4.03

Parasitic

y=1, n=0

n

4.04

Unpalatable to grazing animals

y=1, n=-1

n

4.05

Toxic to animals

y=1, n=0

n

4.06

Host for recognized pests and pathogens

y=1, n=0

y

4.07

Causes allergies or is otherwise toxic to humans

y=1, n=0

n

4.08

Creates a fire hazard in natural ecosystems

y=1, n=0

n

4.09

Is a shade tolerant plant at some stage of its life cycle

y=1, n=0

n

4.1

Tolerates a wide range of soil conditions (or limestone conditions if not a volcanic island)

y=1, n=0

y

4.11

Climbing or smothering growth habit

y=1, n=0

n

4.12

Forms dense thickets

y=1, n=0

n

5.01

Aquatic

y=5, n=0

n

5.02

Grass

y=1, n=0

n

5.03

Nitrogen fixing woody plant

y=1, n=0

n

5.04

Geophyte (herbaceous with underground storage organs -- bulbs, corms, or tubers)

y=1, n=0

n

6.01

Evidence of substantial reproductive failure in native habitat

y=1, n=0

n

6.02

Produces viable seed.

y=1, n=-1

y

6.03

Hybridizes naturally

y=1, n=-1

6.04

Self-compatible or apomictic

y=1, n=-1

6.05

Requires specialist pollinators

y=-1, n=0

6.06

Reproduction by vegetative fragmentation

y=1, n=-1

n

6.07

Minimum generative time (years) 1 year = 1, 2 or 3 years = 0, 4+ years = -1

See left

4

7.01

Propagules likely to be dispersed unintentionally (plants growing in heavily trafficked areas)

y=1, n=-1

n

7.02

Propagules dispersed intentionally by people

y=1, n=-1

y

7.03

Propagules likely to disperse as a produce contaminant

y=1, n=-1

n

7.04

Propagules adapted to wind dispersal

y=1, n=-1

n

7.05

Propagules water dispersed

y=1, n=-1

n

7.06

Propagules bird dispersed

y=1, n=-1

7.07

Propagules dispersed by other animals (externally)

y=1, n=-1

n

7.08

Propagules survive passage through the gut

y=1, n=-1

8.01

Prolific seed production (>1000/m2)

y=1, n=-1

n

8.02

Evidence that a persistent propagule bank is formed (>1 yr)

y=1, n=-1

8.03

Well controlled by herbicides

y=-1, n=1

8.04

Tolerates, or benefits from, mutilation, cultivation, or fire

y=1, n=-1

n

8.05

Effective natural enemies present locally (e.g. introduced biocontrol agents)

y=-1, n=1

Total score:

-5

Source

Notes

1.01

No evidence

1.02

No evidence of naturalization.

1.03

No evidence

2.01

'The tree flourishes in humid tropical and subtropical areas…'

2.02

2.03

(1)Hardiness range 10B -11. (2) Needs a humid climate with ample rainfall. (3)It succeeds up to an altitude of 2,300 ft (700 m). (4)The Spondias species are primarily plants of hot lowlands. The Spondias species are best adapted to areas which have a marked dry season

(1)http://www.hortpix.com/pc4082.htm (2)http://www.tradewindsfruit.com/ambarella.htm (3)http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/morton/ambarella_ars.html#Description (4)http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/BODY_MG059

2.04

(1)Polynesia (2)Native to parts of southeast Asia. It is rarely cultivated outside of Asia.
(3) Origin: Asia, Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, Laos, Philippines, Vietnam
(4)The ambarella is native from Melanesia through Polynesia and has been introduced into tropical areas of both the Old and New World.

(1)http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/BODY_MG059 (2)http://www.tradewindsfruit.com/ambarella.htm (3)http://www.cdfa.ca.gov/phpps/pe/page1.htm (4)http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/morton/ambarella_ars.html

2.05

(1)Introduced to Puerto Rico. (2)Introduced to India, China, Sri Lanka, Philippine and Australia and several other countries.

(1)http://www.csdl.tamu.edu/FLORA/cgi/b98_map?genus=Spondias&species=dulcis (2)http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/morton/ambarella_ars.html#Description

3.01

No evidence of naturalization.

3.02

No evidence

3.03

No evidence

3.04

No evidence

3.05

S. mombin is a serious weed in Honduras and Jamaica. S. lutea is a serious weed in Brazil.

An electronic atlas of weeds and invasive species. Version 1.0. 1997. CD-ROM database.

4.01

No evidence

http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/morton/ambarella_ars.html#Description

4.02

No evidence

4.03

No evidence

4.04

(1)Spondias dulcis produce well known fruits and nutritious edible leaves (2)The fruit is fed to pigs and the leaves are eaten by cattle.

(1)http://www.fao.org/docrep/n6845e/n6845e01.htm (2)http://pppis.fao.org/

4.05

No evidence

4.06

(1)Glomerella cingulata: Barbados - 7284
Lasiodiplodia theobromae: Brazil - 34636
Phomopsis sp.: Barbados - 7284
(2)Host for fruit flies (including Anastrepha spp., Bactrocera spp., & Ceratitis spp.). (3) A web search showed the APHIS has listed the Anastrepha spp as a tropical pest to be not present in the USA and that it was intercepted 158 times at the San Juan airport (4)Host for a number of MANGO pathogens

(1)http://nt.ars-grin.gov/fungaldatabases/all/FindRecOneFungusFrame.cfm (2)http://www.cdfa.ca.gov/phpps/pe/page1.htm (4)Pruvost, O.; Luisetti, J.1989. Strains of Xanthomonas campestris isolated from Ambarella (Spondias cytherea Sonn.) in the French West Indies are probably a new pathogenic form of Xanthomonas campestris pv. mangiferaeindicae. Fruits (Paris) 44:539-542.

4.07

No evidence [ 'Unripe fruits can be made into jelly, pickles or relishes, or used for flavoring sauces, soups and stews. ...Young ambarella leaves are appealingly acid and consumed raw in southeast Asia. ']

http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/morton/ambarella_ars.html#Description

4.08

No information regarding fire ecolog; unlikely, as small, single trunked, deciduous tree, usually grown singley.

4.09

(1)Prefers full sun. (2)The plant prefers some shade and shelter from wind. (3) '...recommends that the young trees be given light shade. '(4)minimum light intensity: very bright

(1)http://www.hortpix.com/pc4082.htm (2)http://www.echonet.org/eln&herbs/eln_catalog/specialtytrees.htm#ambarella (3)http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/morton/ambarella_ars.html#Description (4)http://pppis.fao.org/

4.1

The ambarella grows on all types of soil, including oolitic limestone in Florida, as long as they are well-drained.

http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/morton/ambarella_ars.html#Description

4.11

No evidence - not a vine.

4.12

No evidence

5.01

A perennial tree (Anacardiaceae).

http://plants.usda.gov/cgi_bin/topics.cgi

5.02

5.03

5.04

6.01

no evidence

6.02

The tree is easily propagated by seeds, which germinate in about 4 weeks, or by large hardwood cuttings, or air-layers.

http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/morton/ambarella_ars.html#Description

6.03

No information regarding hybridization.

6.04

No information.

6.05

'Little is known about the pollination need, many isolated trees bear well.'

Knight, R.J. 1993. Pollination requirements for the successful fruiting of tropical fruit species. Proceedings of the International Horticultural Society. Vol 137: 167- 170.

6.06

(1)Propagation: Usually by seeds which can fruit in 2-4 years. (2)The tree is easily propagated by seeds, which germinate in about 4 weeks, or by large hardwood cuttings, or air-layers.

(1)http://www.tradewindsfruit.com/ambarella.htm (2)http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/morton/ambarella_ars.html#Description

6.07

(1)Propagation: Usually by seeds which can fruit in 2-4 years. (2)Seedlings may fruit when only 4 years old.

(1)http://www.tradewindsfruit.com/ambarella.htm (2)http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/morton/ambarella_ars.html#Description

7.01

The propagules do not have any means of attachment.

http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/morton/ambarella_ars.html#Description

7.02

Ornamental plant, edible fruit

7.03

Seeds are relatively large (2 to 4 inches).

http://www.cdfa.ca.gov/phpps/pe/page1.htm

7.04

No information on dispersal. Probably not as the seeds do not have any adaptations for wind dispersal.

7.05

No information on dispersal. Probably not as it its habitat is not near the ocean or near rivers.

7.06

(1) Fruits damaged by birds [but stone is large and spiney, bird dispersal not reported] (2)Spondias are bat-disperesed.

(1)Bérthol, B. 1993. Survey on birds' damage to fruits in Tobago. IICA Miscellaneous Publication, , No.A2/TT-93/01, 26 pp (2) Galindo-González, J. 1998. Seed dispersal by bats: its importance in the conservation and regeneration of tropical forest. (Dispersión de semillas por murciélagos: su importancia en la conservación y regeneración del bosque tropical). Acta Zoologica Mexicana No.73, pp.57-74

7.07

Probably not as the propagules do not have means to attach themselves.

http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/morton/ambarella_ars.html#Description

7.08

Pit is relatively large (2 to 4 inches) and SPINEY, probably not swallowed. Fruits yellow/orange, fragrant -- bat dispersed?

8.01

(1)Fruit green or orange-yellow with brown spots, soft and fibrous white or yellowish flesh, ovoid, 1-5 large spiny leathery seeds, 2-4 inches long. (2) '...woody core containing 1 to 5 flat seeds…'

(1)http://www.cdfa.ca.gov/phpps/pe/page1.htm (2)http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/morton/ambarella_ars.html#Description

8.02

'…results from different trials in Grenada showed that the seed seems to contain some germinating inhibitors in the pulp or endocarp which prevent these from germinating readily unless carefully cleared.'

Knight, R.J. 1993. Pollination requirements for the successful fruiting of tropical fruit species. Proceedings of the International Horticultural Society. Vol 137: 167- 170.

8.03

No evidence that this species is being controlled for.

8.04

Inflorescence pruning reduced fruit size.

Andall, R. P.; Baldeo, S. 2000 The effect of fruit and inflorescence pruning on fruit size and yield of dwarf golden apple (Spondias cytherea Sonn.). Tropical Fruits Newsletter, , No.36/37:.12-14

8.05

Don’t know.