JACKFRUIT

Jackfruit is also known as poor mans fruit. It is commercial crop native of western ghat. It is major and staple food of southeast Asia. In India, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, Assam, Orissa, Kerala and Tamil Nadu are major Jackfruit growing states. In UP, their regular plantations exist. In other states it is grow as mixed crop or as shade tree. Jackfruit is major source of Vitamins and minerals. It is used as vegetable and ripe fruit is used for eating purpose. Several products like Jam, nectar, squash etc. are prepared from Jackfruits. It also possesses medicinal property i.e. used in cancer treatment and for skin treatment.

It required well drained, rich fertile soil for cultivation. pH of soil should be in range of 6 to 7.5. It is tolerant to soil having lime and chlorine content. Also soils near river beds are suitable for its cultivation. 

GKVK -1 and Swarna: Variety release from Karnataka state. Fruits are of superior quality with gumless jack. 

Singapore or Ceylon Jack: Early bearing variety. Fruits are medium size with sweet and crispy flesh. Carpels are yellow, compact and firm with stronge aroma.

Local variety : Gulabi, Champa, Rudrakshi

Exotic variety: Hazari, Golden nuggets, Black gold, Lemmon gold, Chala, Khaja, NS-1, J 30, J 31

Other state varieties:

TNJ -1, TNJ -2, TNJ - 3 and TNJ 4: Excellent quality fruit with low fibre content. Table purpose variety.

NJC , NJC-2, NJC 3: Small medium size fruits suitable for culinary purpose.

Burliar 1, Palur -1, Peechiparai 1: Released by TNAU, Coimbatore.

Time of sowing
Optimum time for Jackfruit planting is in month of July i.e. at the start of monsoon.

Spacing
For planting rectangular or square method of planting is use. In less fertile soil, use Hexagonal system of planting. Depending upon the soil spacing of 8mx8m or 10mx10m or 12mx12m is used.

Method of Sowing
Direct sowing of seeds or transplanting of seedling in main field.

Propagation by seeds:
Fresh seeds or seeds store for less than one month is used for planting purpose. Seeds can be first sown in polythene bag and then transplanted to main field.

Vegetative propagation:
For propagation, patch budding, air layering etc. methods are used. Soft wood grafting is popular now-a-days.
 

Seed Rate
When spacing of 12mx12m is adopted, near about 30plant are accommodated in one acre.

Seed Treatment
Soak seeds in NAA solution@25ppm for 24hour before sowing. It will help in early germination of seeds along with good growth.

Nutrient Requirement (gm/plant)

Jackfruit responds well to fertilizer. Apply 200gm of Nitrogen and 60gm of Phosphorus every year for one to three years plants.
For four to six years plant, apply Nitrogen@400gm, Phosphorus@240gm and Potash@120gm every year.

No regular training and pruning is required. But to protect crop from insect attacked and diseases, remove weak, disease, dead branches at end of rainy season.

Depending upon weed intensity, weeding operations are carryout. Use mulch to protect crop from weed attacked. It also helps in proper growth of crop.

Intercrop: During initial years, i.e. till crop reaches to bearing stage (tree start bearing from 6-8 years), intercrops like chilly, bhindi, brinjal, and pulses like cowpea, horse gram, and black gram can be taken as intercrop.

In rainy season it does not required water. Provide irrigation depending upon rainfall intensity and frequency. Jackfruit crop required irrigation during initial 2-3 years afterward no irrigation is required. In heavy rain avoid water stagnation as it cannot survive in waterlogged conditions.

• Pest and their control:
  

Bud weevil: They feed on tender flower buds and on fruits. If infestation is observed, remove infested shoots, flower bud etc.
Treatment: It can be controlled by spraying of quinalphos@400ml/150ltr water.

Bark Borer: It makes hole in bark.
To avoid its infestation, remove dead branches as it lays eggs on it. Clean bark portion and insert cotton ball soaked in kerosene in it. Then seal hole with mud. Moreover it can be controlled by spraying of methyl parathion 50 EC@500ml/150ltr water.

Shoot and Fruit borer: It is a major pest of jackfruit. Due to its infestation, tender fruits may get drops. It leads to yield loss of 30%.
Take spray of Carbaryl@4gm per litre of water during flowering stage. 

• Disease and their control:
  

Blossom rot, fruit rot or stem rot: It is a serious disease of Jackfruit. If it is not controlled, then it can lead to loss of 15 to 32%.
Collect and destroyed infected leaves and fruits away from field. If infestation is observed, take spray of Bordeaux mixture@1 % or Copper oxychloride@2.5gm/liter of water.

Leaf Spot: Light brown spots are observed on leaves. In severe infestation, leaves get defoliate.
If infestation is observed, take spray of Bordeaux mixture@100gm/10Ltr of water.

Crop is ready for harvesting seven year after planting. Grafted plants give yield from 4th year itself. Fruits are ready for harvesting 3 to 8month after flowering. Right time of harvesting is when fruit changes its color from green to light yellow. Depending upon variety, individual fruit weights about 3-15kg. On an average 20-32ton obtained from one acre.

Jackfruit ripening takes place 3-5days after harvest. Not fruit but its ripe flakes are stored at low temperature. Research finding shows that ripe fruit can be stored for three to six weeks at 11-12.5°C with 85-95% relative humidity.