Land Management Program at Archbold Biological Station
P.O. Box 2057,  Lake Placid, FL 33862
 Phone 863-465-2571  FAX 863-699-1927
 E-mail: landmanager@archbold-station.org

Treatment of Tropical Soda Apple

• Method  
  1.  Foliar spray larger patches with a water based herbicide and surfactant using a 3-gallon backpack sprayer.  Defoliation and plant mortality allows for easier access into the site for future re-treatments.
  2.  Individual plants and small clumps can be cut at the base with a machete and the the base treated with an oil-based herbicide.
  
  
• Herbicide (label information on each herbicide can be obtained by the specific herbicide)
  
  Large Areas:
  Foliar spray all green leaves and stems with a 3% solution of Roundup UIltraMax, Banvil 2,4-D, or Velpar L mixed with 1% surfactant and 96% water.
  
  Individual Plants or Small clumps:
  10% solution of Garlon 4 and 90% spray oil-based adjuvant such as Cidekick
  
  
• Monitoring
  Regardless of the method used, continued re-treatment will be required.  Areas with large coverage of tropical soda apple should be monitored on a monthly basis and all new growth treated with herbicide. 
  
  
• The Biology Of Tropical Soda Apple:  Typically found in pastures, roadsides, ecotones, and disturbed sites.  Seldom is this invasive plant found in intact natural communities at the Station.  Plants can reach full maturity in about 2-3 months and spread is often facilitated by animals that consume the fruits.  Mature plants grow to a height of 2-3 feet.  Produces numerous fruits that contain hundreds of seeds per fruit all year with peak fruit productivity in the fall through spring.
  

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• Hutchinson, J.T., April 2003.
© Archbold Biological Station, 2003 April.
• Webmaster: Fred Lohrer, email: webmaster@archbold-station.org