Volume 52 Number 1 Article 14
Year 1998 Month 1
Title: īRojal` Carob
Authors: I. Batlle and J. Tous
Abstract:
'Rojal' is a high yielding female carob
cultivar (Ceratonia siliqua L.). The carob,
a dioicious species with some hermaphroditic forms, is an evergreen tree.
It is
mainly cultivated but also occurs as wild
trees in poor and dry soils of the coast of
Mediterranean countries.
It was introduced into the United States from Spain in
1854 by the U.S. Patent Office and later
into Australia and South Africa.
The carob
tree is not cold-hardy and temperatures
below -7°C can be damaging.
Spain is the
first world producer followed by Italy and
Portugal (2). The fruit is a pod or legume
which can be mechanically split into pulp
and kernel.
The pulp is used as fodder for
animals and also for human consumption
as dietetic products.
From the kernels, a
highly valued gum can be extracted.
This
gum is used as natural thickener and stabilizer by the food and pet food industries.
The carob tree can also be used as an or
namental in landscaping.
Interest in this
crop is increasing in recent years.
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