Jackfruit in Sri Lanka

Abstract

Jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus Lam.) is extensively grown in homestead and it is an important tree to the people of Sri Lanka. It has rich genetic diversity and there has been progressive erosion of the diversity as well. Therefore exploration, conservation and evaluation were continuously carried out to identify superior trees for the development of quality and high productivity of jackfruit. The information revealed that there are two fruiting seasons, a major season during March-June and minor season from November to January. But there are some off-seasonal and year-round bearing trees too. The crop can be successfully grown in wet, intermediate and up to DL 1 of the dry zone. Jack fruit has a long history in Sri Lanka. The local people consider it to be a most essential crop due to its' multiple values such as timber, medicinal, cultural, environmental values etc. in addition to it's food and nutritive value. In Sri Lanka two types of jackfruit have been recognized which are distinguished by the nature of their flesh, soft and hard flesh types. The important characteristics found in Sri Lankan accessions were the absence of perianth (flakeless) (only for vegetables), absence of seed coat, absence of latex, different colours of perianth (pink, yellow orange, dark yellow, creamy white) and different fruit shapes (round, oblong, long-oblong, irregular) and sizes (large 30 kg to small 1 kg). The fruit rind colour was noted as green, green-yellow, and reddish yellow. Five superior hard flesh type of jackfruit cultivars namely, Farther Long, Maharagama, Kothmale, Hirosa and Mandoor were identified as outstanding varieties and released for cultivation. It is important to have early and efficient propagation methods to multiply an accession to get uniform planting material and found higher success in cleft grafting. There are some biotic factors, which influence the reduction of quality and quantity of production of jackfruit. High levels of infection were found due to Glyphodes caesalis and Colletotrichum spp. among identified insect pest and pathogens respectively. A very low percentage of total produce is consumed as a food amounting 30% and greater percentages, amounting to about 70% is lost in the form of pie and post- harvest losses. The major constraint reported in marketing were the absence of properly organized marketing structures, lack of processing plants and the poor demand in local market for jack products. An integrated approach would improve productivity, quality and income from jack cultivation contributing to poverty alleviation in the rural sector to a considerable extent.