Jackfruit.Origin and Domestication 21.5.

2017
JAK: ORIGIN and DOMESTICATION1
1
Term paper submitted by Alangelico O. San Pascual as a major requirement for Horticulture 230 (Fruit Crops
Physiology) under the suoervision of Dr. Calixto M. Protacio, Professor of Horticulture in University of the Philippines
Los Baos, 4031

Introduction

Jackfrut (Figure 1) commonly known as Nangka or Langka in the Philippines is a minor

economically important crop. It is a member of the Morus family (Moraceae) that also includes
other Artocarpus species such as the Chempedak (A. integer), Breadfruit (A. altilis) and Marang
(A. odoratissimus) (Protacio and Namuco, 2010). Among the different Artocarpus, it is the
heterophyllus that is the most economically important (Encyclopedia of Life, 2013). Next are the
Chempedak and Marang. It is an important
fruit tree in the Philippines, Thailand, Sri Lanka
and other neighboring countries. Introduction
of jak on other areas of the world such as in
Florida was also done. As a matter of fact, in
Florida, it has been introduced there in 1886.
In the Philippines, it is 6th in importance with
6th in importance 1.2M trees planted in 14419
Ha in the country with a total production of
51714 tons (BAS, 2009). It is major growing
regions are: Cagayan Valley, Cavite, Laguna,
Batangas, Rizal, Quezon, Western, Central and
Eastern Visayas, the Zamboanga peninsula, Figure 1. Fruit bearing Jackfruit (A. heterophyllus) tree

Davao region and Northern Mindanao.

Breeding and improvement also were done and several improved varieties were developed like the
Sinapelo, Cervantes gold, Eviarc sweet, MMSU sro and Mabini jackfruits. Specifically, Sinapelo
has yellow orange, firm, very sweet (29.7oBrix) syncarp with low latex and an edible portion of
48%. Cervantes gold on the other hand has golden yellow, sweet (22 oBrix), crispy syncarp with
strong aroma, scanty latex and an edible portion of 45%. EVIARC sweet has a sweet, golden
yellow syncarp having a strong aroma also and weighs an average of 12kg bearing 30 fruits at 19
years of age. MMSU sro has yellow orange syncarp that are very sweet (30oBrix), firm. It is also
characterized as a heavy yielder. Lastly, Mabini jak has yellow orange, sweet (20.4oBrix), firm
syncarp that is aromatic and heavy yielder. In addition it also has 50% edible portion. These
varieties were registered to NSIC, commercially propagated and distributed all over the country.

Sarker et al. (2015) stated that Jak is the nation fruit of Bangladesh. It also helsp alleviate hunger
as it is a source of secondary staple for most of the poor citizens of the country (Haq, 2002). Several
studies that characterized its physico-chemical properties proving its prmosing potential as source
of carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals were numerous. Gupta et al. (2011) stated that Jak is an
integral part of the Indian diet.
Jackfruit.Origin and Domestication 21.5.2017
According to Mukprasirt and Sajjaanantakul (2004), jak is rich in vitamin A, vitamin C, thiamin,
riboflavin, calcium, potassium, iron, sodium, zinc, and niacin among many other nutrients with
low calorie content. In addition, it is also a rich source of potassium having 303 mg found in 100
g of jackfruit (Swami, 2012). It is also rich in vitamin C and is rich in antioxidant (Haq, 2002). It
also contain lignings, isoflavones and saponins. The Morus family is identified to have anticancer,
antiulcer and antihypertensive properties in the bark, leaves and even fruit. It has niacin (vitamin
B3) which is vital for the energy efficiency and metabolism and hormone synthesis. A portion of
100 g of jackfruit pulp provides 4 mg niacin (Soobratee, 2005) The root of Jackfruit can be used
to treat asthma skin problems, diarrhea and fever (Samaddar, 1985).

It also can be used as an ornamental plant. More than the ornamental adornment, it is generally
used as food. There was an old adage saying that when you have a Jak and a coconut, you are
already saved. In the country, the use of langka come across the diet plan of the Filipinos starting
as a viand to dessert as mixed with sugar syrup or coconut milk. Several preserves and candies
were also created out of the jak and have generated income for the town people especially the
women and the old citizen thus incurring and harnessing empowerment also that strengthens
community linkages and development.

In Cebu, Jak is also used as wood for guitar. It is chosen because of jak wood is light like the narra.
Jak wood may not be the best wood for guitar but is actually an outstanding substitute to Narra.
Since Narra is endangered now, the use of alternatives are also being considered and jak is one of
them.

The jak is an introduced yet adaptable species in the Philippines like most of its relatives under the
artocarpacae like the Marang, Breadfruit and Kamansi. This may be due to the similarity in the
weather and climatic factors of our country to that of the country of origin.

As an important fruit species in the Philippines, it is vital also to trace its roots and the mechanism
how it was brought into the Philippines and spread all over the world. Jak fruit should also be
characterized so that additional information on its morphology may be of help in further breeding
strategies and programs to be employed in jak. Also the biology, pollination and even breeding
systems should be given importance since these might be of help in understanding how this species
evolve and perpetuate and how interventions can be
done to also improve production in the context or in
the aspect of fertilization, fruit set and production.
The genepool also of the jak as compared with other
Artocarpus species specifically the breadfruit (which
is the next primarily important) should also be
compared so that in the breeding (intergeneric and
interspecific) hybridization can be exploited to
produce more improved varieties with novel
phenotype and outstanding quality and even
resistance.
Jackfruit.Origin and Domestication 21.5.2017
Taxonomy and Distribution

The table above shows the Taxonomical

description of Jak. It is under the Moraceae
family and is widely distributed in the South and
Southeast asia and in south Africa. It thrives in
the sub- tropical to tropical climate South Africa,
South America and the Oceania also is a place for
its cultivation.

Reproductive Biology/ Pollination and Breeding Figure 2. Morphology of Jak (A. heterophyllus)
Systems

Figure 2 shows the leaf, fruit and flower morphology of A. heterophyllus. It is a monoecious
species with the female flowers solitary. The female flower has nine phenological developments.
The female flowers are borned in a fleshy receptacle having green perianth with a unilocular ovary.
(Pushpakumara, 2011). Papillate stigmas can be observed. Receptive period was observed 15-28
days (Pushpakumara, 2011) but recent study in UF stated that stigma receptivity only lasted for
28-36hrs having the male and femal flower ratio as 96:4. No observable nectar production is
distinguishable for receptivity. Table 1 shows phenological stages and duration of development of
female inflorescence of jak while figure 4 shows that of the male. The total days by ripening is
almost similar with that of the total days of ripening as stated by UF. Also the receptivity was
divided into three, as minimum, maximum and end based on the number of stigma of inflorescence
opened. While the male flowers are found to be 38 before the end of anthesis as observed that male
flowers wilt after sometime and considerably shorter in life cycle as that of the female. Lengthy
stigmatic receptivity was found to be the characteristic of Artocarpus species as observed in
odoratissimus and elasticus (2 8 weeks),altilis (6-8 days, Primack, 1985) and altilis (5-7 days,
Pushpakumara).
Stage Morphological description Duration (days)
1 Female inflorescence covered with stipule. Female buds observed to be 6.9 0.15 (5-9)
shorter and stouter than the male bud.
Newly opened female inflorescence with stipules
2 Newly opened female inflorescence with stipules 2.9 0.07 (2-4)
3 Expansion stage. Stigmas are observed as thread like structures 11.1 0.20 (8-15)
4 Beginning of receptivity (stigma of <25% of the flowers are fleshy and 5.1 0.09 (3-6)
milky white, rest of stigma are thread like and watery white)
5 Maximum receptivity (stigma >50% of flowers are fleshy, straight and 5.9 0.08 (5-7)
milky white
6 End of receptivity (stigma <25% of flowers are fleshy, straight and milky 4.8 0.09 (3-6)
white, the rest are brown and withered or bent)
7 Maturation stage 36 0.55 (27-45)
8 Mature Syncarps 29.8 0.31 (25-35)
9 Ripened syncarp, emission of sweet aroma with flattened spines and 6.3 0.28 (3-10)
produces a dull hollow sound when tapped.
Total 108 0.74 (81-137)
Table 1. Nine phenological stages of the female flower cycle as proposed by Pushpakumara
Jackfruit.Origin and Domestication 21.5.2017
Male inflorescence are found terminally. Pushpakumara suggested 6 phenological stages of the
male flower growth. It has 1 stamen but with 4 pollen sacs jibing with the UF report of having 4
anthers. The male inflorescences were covered with the yellow powder when anthers already
dehisced. Again, no visible nectar and odor production at anther dehiscence. Anther dehiscence
is in the late morning (10:30am) or late afternoon (2:30pm) but Pushpakumara (2006) stated that
anther dehiscence of an inflorescence lasts for about 12 to 16 days, relatively shorter than that of
the female inflorescence. This short duration of flower existence is compensated by the rate of
male to female flower production. It was observed in UF that male to female flower ratio is 96:4.
Lina on the other hand have observed higher male flower than female.
Stage Morphological Description Duration (days)
1 Male inflorescence covered with stipule 7.5 0.17 (5-10)
2 Newly opened male inflorescence with stipules 3.2 0.08 (2-4)
3 Expansion stage (no stipule or mature anthers) 13.3 0.28 (10-18)
4 Beginning of anthesis (<25% anthers are functional and ashy-grey) 5.2 0.07 (4-6)
5 Maximum anthesis (>50% anthers are functional and ashy grey 8.9 0.08 (8-10)
6 End of anthesis (<25% anthers are functional and ashy grey to black) 4.6 0.06 (3-5)
and rotting of inflorescence
Total 42.6 0.34 (32-53)
Table 2. Six phenological stages of the male flower cycle as proposed by Pushpakumara

On the synchrony of male and femal flower production and opening, a com plete overlap was
reported by Augspurger (1983)

Jak produces the largest fruits in the world; The syncarp is round to clylindrical to pear shaped that
are greeninh to yellow bearing many achemes that are colored yellow to golden yellow to even
red. The syncarp matures 3months after emergence. Several documentations were done to
characterize the syncarp of A. heterophyllus
and all of the reported information jibed with
one another as reported by Haq (2006),
Moncur (1985), Acedo (1992) and
Pushpakumara (2006) (Pushpakumara, 2011).
Inflorescence abnormalities were observed in
the exercise done in Hort130. Very common is
the irregularity of the development of achemes
in a syncarp. This may be due to the differential
pollination rates done in several parts of the
syncarp creating a catfaced type of fruits.
{Pushpakumara (2011) observed abscission of
the fermale inflorescence and abnormal
inflorescence do not develop into syncarps.
Also irregularity on the syncarp shape cannot Figure 3. Gene pool concept on A. heterophyllus
be deduced only by the differential pollination
but also the differential stigmatic receptivity of inflorescences in one flower. Lack of pollination
Jackfruit.Origin and Domestication 21.5.2017
(Acedo, 1992), low pollen viability and incompetent stigmas can lead to irregular syncarps that in
turn can lead to abscission.

Mode of pollination for A.

heterophyllus suggested are
wind, insect and wind-insect
pollination. An experiment by
Pshpakumara wherein they
have detected pollen grains on
stigmas covered with insect
proof bags in an emasculated
tree. Furthermore, hypothesis
on it as an insect-pollinated
species was based on the
ability to produce odour of the
male inflorescence and also the
thriving of insects on the male
inflorescence. But odour, as
stated again by Pushpakumara,
Figure 4. Isozyme charactrerization of Artocarpus and the (B) A. can only be observed on rotting
integer and (C) herbarium collection of A. annulatus, notice the
male inflorescence, Among the
small fruits of annulatus as compared to the integer
insects, only 1.5% walks and
carries pollen to other flowers. Ven der Pijl concluded also that there is a symbiotic relationship
that occurs on Drosophila and the syncarp of jak. As he observed many Drosophila on the male
inflorescence.
But another hypothesis which was found to be the more sound is the number of male and female
flowers of A. heterophyllus. The ratio of male to female flower suggests that pollen dispersal has
been wind-borne.

On the characterization of the jak as it is self or

cross pollinated, Pushpakumara has stated that it is
a predominantly outcrossing species. It is an
autopolyploid having a chromosome number of
2n=4x=56. This polyploidy can be attributed to the
large fruits of the jak. It has similar chromosome
number on other Jak species such as the integer,
lancefolius and rigidus.
On the breeding and mating systems on jak, the
Harlan concept of germplasm (Figure 3) have stated
that intraspecific outcrossing and selfing may occur Figure 5. Artocarpus natural hybrid Cheena
easily since they are all on the gene pool 1 but when
heterophyllus was crossed with integer, it may also gain success but not as high as that of the
Jackfruit.Origin and Domestication 21.5.2017
intraspecific crossing while interspecific crossing of heterophyllus with other species of artocarpus
except for integer, which is its closest relative, may gain a lot of difficulty.

Isozyme characterization and diversity analysis (Figure 4) done showed that A. heterophyllus is
closely related to 2 Artocarpus species namely, integer and annulatus. It is mysterious also to note
the morphological characteristics of annulatus as compared to the integer and the heterophyllus.
A. annulatus have small syncarps while the heterophyllus and the integer have very big syncarps.

This may be attributed to the isozyme characterization and not on morphological characterization,
more molecular characterization on the DNA level may be done to further improve the genetic
diversity analysis of these species to further prove the relativity of these Artocarpus species.

An interspecific natural hybrid named Cheena was developed by natural crossing of Chempedak
(A. integer) and A. heterophyllus. Figure 5 shows the picture of Cheena.
Origin and Domestication

Jak is indigenous to the forests of Western Ghats (Tonogbanua, 2014). It is cultivated throughout
the tropics of the South and Southeast Asia, in Brazil and also in Africa. Wood charcoal remains
were found from Senuwar, Phase II c. 2100-2400 BP and linguistic evidence suggests two separate
centers of domestication, one in India and another in Malay peninsula.

Figure 6. Introduction map of A. heterophyllus from Western Ghats to the rest of the
countries near the equator, where jak is highly adaptable
In the Philippines, it was known to be introduced via the coastal Filipinos who trade from malaysia
and China in the 12th century (Pelzar, 1948). Archaeological findings have found that jak has been
cultivated in India 5000-6000 years ago (Menon and Peter, 2011). An indian emperor named
Ashoka (275-237 BC) have promoted arbori-culture of these trees. Earliest accounts of Jak
cultivation was found in 16th century in Mughal emperor Babar. In addition, Indochina temples
were found to be made out of jakwood most especially in Madacassar and Bali.
Jackfruit.Origin and Domestication 21.5.2017
The spread of jak has been mainly by trading and by coastal people. In Jamaica for example, it
became common in the area because of the introduction due to a captured ship by pirates and
landed in Jamaica where fruits of jak are contained.

Since it has been adapted to humid tropical conditions with high temperature to sub-tropical areas,
it has been adaptable to the southeast Asian countries making its spread easy. Also the easy
germination of the seeds of either cross or self-pollinated species can also be attributed to the fast
spread of this species.
Tonogbanua (2014) presented a map of introduction of Jak from Western Ghats to the rest of the
Southeast Asian countries. It spread though out Southeast Asia then to South Africa and then South
America.
References:

Acedo AL. 1992. Jackfruit biology, production, use and Philippine research. Monograph 1.
F/FRED project. Winrock Inrternational Institute for Agric Development. USA.

Augspurger CK. 1983. Phenology, flowering synchrony and fruit set of six neotrpical shrubs.
Biotropica 15:257-267.

Menon R, Peter KV 2011. Origin, Distribution and Biodiversity of jackfruit. In Valavi SG, Peter
KV and Thottappilly G. 2011. The jackfruit. Studium Press. Texas USA.

Protacio CM and Namuco LO. 2010. Fruit and Plantation Crop Production in the Philippines. UP
Press. UP Diliman, Quezon City.

Pushpakumara, DKNG. 2011. Reproductive Biology of Jak. In Valavi SG, Peter KV and
Thottappilly G. 2011. The jackfruit. Studium Press. Texas USA.
Moncur MW. 1985. Floral Ontogeny of jackfruit. Aus J Bot. 33:585-593.

Pushpakumara DKNG, Boshier DH and Simons AJ. 2010. Pollination Vectors of Artocarpus
heterophyllus Lam. (Moraceae) in Sri Lanka.
Pushpakumara DKNG. 2006. Floral and Fruit Morphology and Phenology of Artocarpus
heterophyllus Lam. Trop Agric Res. 9:1-14.

Primack RB. 1985. Comparative studies of fruits on wild and cultivated trees of chempedak,
terrapin Sarawk, east Malaysia with additional information on the reproductive biology of the
Moracea in southeast Asia. Malas Nature J. 39:1-39.

Tonogbanua KA. (2014) Jackfruit: Origin, Domenstication and Future Prospectives. Presentation
for Agr 254. UPLB.

Van de Pijl L. 1953. On the Flower Biology of same plants from Java with general remarks on fly
traps (species of Annona, Artocarpus, Typhonium, Gnetum, Arisaema and Abbroma). Annales
Bogorienses 1:77-99.
Jackfruit.Origin and Domestication 21.5.2017
Sobrabotee (2005) in Jackfruit and its many Functional Components as related to Human health: A
Review. DOI: 10.1111/j.1541-4337.2012.00210.x

Mukprasirt and Sajjaanantakul (2004) in Jackfruit and its many Functional Components as related to
Human health: A Review. DOI: 10.1111/j.1541-4337.2012.00210.x

www.encyclopedia of life.com/ Moraceae. Visited: May 20,2017.

Haq. N. 2002. The jackfruit, Artocarpus heterophyllus. Southampton Center for Underutilized
Crops. Southampton, UK