Distribution: The jackfruit is believed indigenous to the rain forests of the Western Ghats of India. It spreads early on to other parts of India and the East Indies. It is now widely cultivated in south and south-east Asia including Bangladesh, Malaysia , Myanmar, India, Indonesia, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, South China, Thailand and Vietnam, in the Caribbean and Latin America, particularly Brazil, and parts of Africa, including Kenya and Uganda. The species was introduced to Kenya, Mauritius and Uganda in Africa and in Australia, and has been cultivated in the Bahamas, Surinam, Hawaii, Jamaica and Mexico in the western hemisphere. The tree is also grown to a very limited extent in Florida, where it is hardier than its relative the breadfruit (A. altilis).

Economics of jackfruit: There is a lack of information on the economics of jackfruit is scarce in some countries. From the information available, it is noted that production from Indonesia, Malaysia (growing areas: Johor, Sarawak, Sabah, Kelantan, Kedah, Negeri Sembilan, Pahang, Trengganu, Perak and Selangor) and Thailand exceeds 1.5 million tons. Data from Malaysia indicates that commercial cultivation is on the rise either as monoculture or intercropped with durian. With exception of Thailand, which is always had a very aggressive approach towards agriculture; there is very little export trade of jackfruit in the rest of Southeast Asia.

The large, heavy and perishable fruit is not well suited for the fresh fruit export trade, but canned and other processed products are exported to Australia and Europe. Bangladesh produces 1.5 million tons of fruits from 160,000 hectares of land, with about 30% of fruits being grown as a monoculture. In India, the total area under jackfruit cultivation is thought to be approximately 26,000 hectares, of which, an estimated 100,000 trees are grown in back yards and as intercrops amongst other commercial crops in south India. Jackfruit is also grown commercially in Sri Lanka over of an area of about 4,500 hectares, primarily for timber, although the fruit is much appreciated.

Cultivars and Varieties

a) Grown Cultivars and Varieties: There are two main varieties. In one, the fruits have small, fibrous, soft, mushy, but very sweet carpels with a texture somewhat akin to 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.

b) Clone and Cultivar Characteristic: Being cross-pollinated and mostly seed propagated, the jackfruit consists of numerous types, forms and fruit characteristics. The types differ widely among themselves in bearing, size, shape, quality and period of maturity. Wide variations in sweetness, acidity, flavor, aroma and taste have been observed.

In India according to (Mitra and Maity, 2000), there are two types of jackfruits - soft flesh and firm flesh jackfruits are cultivated. Jackfruit, "koozha Chakka" variety has small, fibrous, soft, mushy, but very sweet carpels of high quality known as Varika is commonly grown in the Southern Indian state of Kerala. Koozha pazham is more important commercially than "koozha Chakka" due to its crisp carpers. The aforementioned varities are apparently known in different areas by other names such as Barka, or Berka (soft, sweet and broken open with the hands), and Kapa or Kapiya (crisp and cut open with a knife). The Khuja or Karcha (green, hard and smooth with pale-brown or occcasionally pale-green rind, and pulp as hard as an apple with juicy pulp and small seeds); the Ghila, or Ghula, is usually light-green, occasionally brownish, and has soft pulp, sweet or acidulously sweet and large seeds. Hazari; similar to Rudrakshi has a relatively smooth rind and flesh of inferior quality. 

Indonesian cultivar "Tabouey"		Jackfruits, variety "koozha Chakka", grown in the Southern Indian state of Kerala

The 'Singapore' or 'Ceylon' jackfruit is a remarkably early bearer producing fruit in 18 months to 2 1/2 years from transplanting, was introduced into India from Ceylon and planted extensively in 1949. The fruit is of medium size with small, fibrous carpers which are very sweet. The equivalent types are known as Kha-nun nang (firm; best) and Kha-nun lamoud (soft) in Thailand; and as Vela (soft) and Varaka, or Waraka (firm) in Ceylon. The Peniwaraka, or honey jackfruit has sweet pulp that has been claimed as the best of all jackfruits. The Kuruwaraka has small, rounded fruits, dark-green rind in contrast to the golden yellow pulp when cut open for eating when ripe. The Vela type predominates in the West Indies. From eastern India (mainly West Bengal) 35 types have been identified as superior clones.

Meanwhile, the Mekasari Fruit Garden of Indonesia has a rich collection of different jackfruit species from various regions in the Archipelago (Tirtawinata, 2000). More than 30 cultivars have been planted in Java, Indonesia. Among the popular ones are Kandel, Mini and Tabouey.

West Indies jackfruit - Vela type		Kuruwaraka jackfruit

In Florida, USA, though jackfruit has never been commercialised before, many new superior cultivars have been imported by Fairchild Tropical Garden which offer commercial possibilities right now. Of the 22 cultivars presently in collection, Black Gold, Golden Nugget, J 31, Honey Gold and Lemon Gold have been the most precious.

'Black Gold' (left) was selected in Queensland, Australia. The tree is vigorous, with a dense and highly manageable canopy. With annual pruning the tree is easily maintained at a height and spread of 2 to 2.5 m, with consistent, heavy production of 55 to 90 kg per tree. The fruit are medium-sized, averaging 6.7 kg, with an edible flesh percentage of 35%. The exterior of the fruit is dark green and has sharp fleshy spines. The spines do not flatten, or "open" upon maturity, making it difficult to judge the proper harvest time and maturity. The deep orange flesh is soft, with a strong, sweet flavor and aroma. The flesh is easily removed from the fruit compared with other cultivars.

'Golden Nugget' (left) was selected in Queensland, Australia. The tree is fast growing, with a distinctive dark green, rounded leaf. It forms a dense, spreading canopy, which is easily maintained at a height and spread of 2 to 2.5 m. The fruit are small, green and rounded, with sharp, fleshy spines on the skin. The spines flatten to a smooth, golden-yellow upon maturity. The fruit weigh 3.2 kg, with an excellent edible flesh percentage of 41%. The deep orange flesh is soft to medium firm depending on fruit ripeness. The flavor is excellent and the flesh has no fiber. 'Golden Nugget' fruit will often split open prior to ripening when there are heavy rains. Yields can be maintained at 60 to 80 kg per tree per year.

Australian "Black Gold"		Australian "Golden Nugget"

Malaysia jackfruit NS4		Malaysian jackfruit “Mastura”

In Malaysia, some of the recommended cultivars for commercial planting are namely, J29 (fomerly MART11-N), J31 (formerly MART08-N) or NS1, NS4, NS9 and "Mastura". J29 is quite popular varieties because of its fruit which is round, medium to large (11-15 kg) with medium to thick yellow orange flesh (bulb), fine texture, sweet, and with strong aroma. It has a high flesh recovery of 36% and the fruit skin is yellowish-green with coarse spines and the bulbs are well-spaced inside the fruit. J31 produces medium (8-12 kg) and elongated with green skin of moderate thickness fruits. The flesh is yellow, medium thickness, crispy, sweet, with fine texture and strong aroma. It also has high flesh recovery of 36% but the plant is susceptible to Erwinia bacterial die-back that forces many of the growers to switch to more tolerant cultivars lately. NS4, NS9, J30 and "Mastura" are other varieties selected by farmers and Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) which are grown to a small extent for their varied fruit sizes and shape, skin color, flesh texture, thickness, sweetness and aroma besides possibilities of further processing and canning.

Malaysian jackfruit NS9		Malaysian jackfruit J31(NS1)
Malaysian jackfruit NS1		Malaysian jackfruit J30

c) Related Species: Breadfruit (Artocarpus altilis), Breadnut (A. altilis 'Seminifera'), Champedak (A. integer), Lakoocha (A. lakoocha), Marang (A. odoratissimus), pudau (Artocarpus kemando) and Aini-Maram (Artocarpus hirsutus), A. mariennensis, Artocarpus lanceifolius, A. gomezianus, A. loocha, A. edulis, A. hypargyreus, A. lowii, Artocarpus anisophyllus, Artocarpus nitidus, Artocarpus glaucus. Distant affinity: Figs (Ficus spp.), Mulberries (Morus spp.), African Breadfruit (Treculia african).

Breadfruit (Artocarpus altilis)		Lakoocha (A. lakoocha)

Marang (A. odoratissimus)		African Breadfruit (Treculia african)

Mulberries (Morus spp.)		Figs (Ficus spp.)

Indian Aini-maram (Artocarpus hirsutus)		Pudau (Artocarpus kemando)

Artocarpus dadah		Artocarpus lanceifolius

Artocarpus elasticus		Artocarpus hypargyreus

Artocarpus anisophyllus		Artocarpus lowii

Artocarpus integer		Artocarpus camansi

Artocarpus nitidus		Artocarpus glaucus

Artocarpus mariennensis		Artocarpus edulis

Artocarpus loocha		A. gomezianus

-- Top --