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Green-Seeds.com
Fruits
& Others
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JACKFRUIT
 Artocarpus heterophyllus
Lam. Moraceae
Common Names: Jackfruit,
Jakfruit, Jaca, Nangka.
Related Species: Breadfruit
(Artocarpus altilis), Breadnut (A. altilis 'Seminifera'), Champedak (A.
integer), Lakoocha (A. lakoocha), Marang (A. odoratissimus). Distant affinity:
Figs (Ficus spp.), Mulberries (Morus spp.), African Breadfruit (Treculia
african).
Origin: The jackfruit
is believed indigenous to the rain forests of the Western Ghats of India.
It spread early on to other parts of India, southeast Asia, the East Indies
and ultimately the Philippines. It is often planted in central and eastern
Africa and is fairly popular in Brazil and Surinam.
Adaptation: Jackfruit
is adapted to humid tropical and near-tropical climates. Mature trees have
survived temperatures of about 27° F in southern Florida, but these
were frozen to large limbs. Young trees are likely to be killed at temperatures
below 32° F. Unlike its relative, the breadfruit, the jackfruit is not
injured by cool weather several degrees above freezing. There are only a
dozen or so bearing jackfruit trees today in southern Florida, and these
are valued mainly as curiosities. There are also several trees planted in
the Asian exhibit at the San Diego Zoo. What they will do or how high they
will grow remains a question. The tree is too large to make a suitable container-grown
plant.
DESCRIPTION
Growth Habit: The jackfruit
tree is handsome and stately. In the tropics it grows to an enormous size,
like a large eastern oak. In California it is very doubtful that it would
ever approach this size. All parts contain a sticky, white latex.
Foliage: The leaves
are oblong, oval, or elliptic in form, 4 to 6 inches in length, leathery,
glossy, and deep green in color. Juvenile leaves are lobed.
Flowers: Male and female
flowers are borne in separate flower-heads. Male flower-heads are on new
wood among the leaves or above the female. They are swollen, oblong, from
an inch to four inches long and up to an inch wide at the widest part. They
are pale green at first, then darken. When mature the head is covered with
yellow pollen that falls rapidly after flowering. The female heads appear
on short, stout twigs that emerge from the trunk and large branches, or
even from the soil-covered base of very old trees. They look like the male
heads but without pollen, and soon begins to swell. The stalks of both male
and female flower-heads are encircled by a small green ring.
Fruit: Jackfruit is
the largest tree-borne fruit in the world, reaching 80 pounds in weight
and up to 36 inches long and 20 inches in diameter. The exterior of the
compound fruit is green or yellow when ripe. The interior consists of large
edible bulbs of yellow, banana-flavored flesh that encloses a smooth, oval,
light-brown seed. The seed is 3/4 to 1-1/2 inches long and 1/2 to 3/4 inches
thick and is white and crisp within. There may be 100 or up to 500 seeds
in a single fruit, which are viable for no more than three or four days.
When fully ripe, the unopened jackfruit emits a strong disagreeable odor,
resembling that of decayed onions, while the pulp of the opened fruit smells
of pineapple and banana.
There are two main varieties.
In one, the fruits have small, fibrous, soft, mushy, but very sweet carpels
with a texture somewhat akin to a raw oysters. The other variety is crisp
and almost crunchy though not quite as sweet. This form is the more important
commercially and is more palatable to western tastes.
CULTURE
Location: The jackfruit
tree should have a well-drained, frost-free location that is sunny and warm.
Soil: The jackfruit
flourishes in rich, deep soil of medium or open texture. Planting on top
of an old compost heap would be ideal. The faster one can force a tropical
plant to grow, the better the chance of keeping it alive. The tree needs
the best drainage and cannot tolerate "wet feet".
Irrigation: The tree
will not tolerate drought. Water frequently during warm months and warm
periods in cooler months. Less water is necessary during colder weather.
Fertilization: The jackfruit's
requirements are not known, but frequent, weak solutions of all-purpose
fertilizer will speed the plant's growth without causing burn. In the regions
where it is commonly grown, it succeeds without much care from man, the
sole necessity being abundant moisture.
Frost protection: Although
mature jackfruit trees will take several degrees of frost, it is prudent
to provide young plants with overhead protection if possible and plant them
on the south side of a wall or building. Small plants should be given complete
protection with a covering on cold nights and even a light bulb if possible.
Propagation:Propagation
is usually by seeds, which can be kept no longer than a month before planting.
Germination requires 3 to 8 weeks. The seedlings should be moved when no
more than 4 leaves have appeared. A more advanced seedling, with its long
and delicate tap root is very difficult to transplant successfully. Cutting-grown
plants and grafted seedlings are possible. Air-layering is common in India.
Pruning: Little or no
pruning is required other than to remove any dead branches from the interior
of the tree, so that sufficient light is obtained for the developing fruit.
Pests and diseases:
A variety of pests and diseases afflict the jackfruit tree and fruit regions
where it is commonly grown. In California the white fly is a minor pest.
Harvest: Jackfruits
mature 3 to 8 months from flowering. When mature, there is usually a change
of fruit color from light green to yellow-brown. Spines, closely spaced,
yield to moderate pressure, and there is a dull, hollow sound when the fruit
is tapped. After ripening, they turn brown and deteriorate rather quickly.
Cold storage trials indicate that ripe fruits can be kept for 3 to 6 weeks
at 52° to 55° F and relative humidity of 85% to 95%. Immature fruit
is boiled, fried, or roasted. Chunks are cooked in lightly salted water
until tender and then served. The only handicap is copious gummy latex which
accumulates on utensils and hands unless they are first rubbed with cooking
oil. The seeds can also be boiled or roasted and eaten similar to chestnuts.
In Southeast Asia dried slices of unripe jackfruit are sold in the markets.
The ripe bulbs, fermented and then distilled, produce a potent liquor.
CULTIVARS
In Malaysia and India there are named types of fruit. One that has caused
a lot of interest is Singapore, or Ceylon, a remarkable yearly bearer
producing fruit in 18 months to 2-1/2 years from transplanting. The fruit
is of medium size with small, fibrous carpels which are very sweet. It
was introduced into India from Ceylon and planted extensively in 1949.
Other excellent varieties are Safeda, Khaja, Bhusila, Bhadaiyan and Handia.
In Australia, some of the varieties are: Galaxy, Fitzroy, Nahen, Cheenax,
Kapa, Mutton, and Varikkha. None of these appear to be available in the
US at this time.
FURTHER READING
Morton, Julia F. Fruits of Warm Climates. Creative Resources Systems,
Inc. 1987. pp. 58-63.
Popenoe, Wilson. Manual of Tropical and Subtropical Fruits. Hafner Press.
1974. Facsimile of the 1920 edition. pp. 414-419
Tankard, Glenn. Tropical Fruit: an Australian Guide to Growing and Using
Exotic Fruits. Viking O'Neil. 1987. pp. 52-53.
© Copyright 1996
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