About

The jackfruit or jakfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus) is a fruit tree in the mulberry family of Moraceae. Native to India, the species was first described under the name Artocarpus heterophyllus in Encyclopédie Méthodique, Botanique in 1789 by Jean-Baptiste Lamarck, based on a specimen collected by botanist Philibert Commerson.

The jackfruit tree is a large evergreen tree that can grow up to 30 m (98 ft) tall. It has a dense foliage with leathery leaves which are smooth on one side and rough on the other. Fine hairs cover various parts of the tree, and the bark and leaves produce a sticky, milky sap. The tree is monoecious and produces an inflorescence consisting of cluster of small, pale green flowers from the trunk and large branches.

How to grow it

The jackfruit is extensively cultivated commercially in South and Southeast Asia, and other parts of the world such as Brazil. Archaeological evidence has revealed that the jackfruit was cultivated in India about 3,000 to 6,000 years ago. Though there are several cultivars and varities, two broad types of fruits are generally described, one with soft, juicy, and sweet kernels, and the other with hard and crisp ones. The fruits mature three to eight months after flowering. It is harvested by hand, and ripe fruits turn colour from pale green to greenish brown, give a characteristic odour, and makes a hollow noise when tapped.

Once harvested, the fruit has to be consumed quickly, and once cut open, they deteriorate within a few days. At cooler temperatures, the fruits can survive three to six weeks. As per an estimate, about 75% of the fruits go waste due to the limited life span. Due to the presence of latex, the hands, knives, and other surfaces are generally coated with a viscous liquid such as oil to prevent sticking.

Where it grows

The jackfruit tree is native to India and might belong to the Western Ghats range in India. It spread to Southeast Asia, and to the islands of Indonesia and the Philippines. It was later introduced to East Africa and to the Americas. In addition to the various countries in South Asia and Southeast Asia, where it is extensively grown, it is also found in China, Brazil, Suriname, and Venezuela in South America, the Caribbean, Central, East and West Africa and the islands of Mauritius, Seychelles, and Reunion, and parts of Oceania and North America. It can become an invasive species as in Brazil's Tijuca Forest.

Uses

The edible raw pulp is 74% water, 23% carbohydrates, 2% protein, and 1% fat (table). The carbohydrate component is primarily sugars, and is a source of dietary fiber. In a reference amount of 100 grams (3.5 oz), raw jackfruit provides 95 kilocalories, and is a moderate source (10–19% of the Daily Value) of vitamin B6, vitamin C, and potassium, with no appreciable content of other micronutrients (table).

Other Artocarpus plants

Breadfruit · Antipolo · Artocarpus · Chempedak · Marang · Breadfruit