Artocarpus (mariannensis)

Kim Wilkinson Craig Elevitch Permanent Agriculture Resources P.O. Box 428 Holualoa, Hawaii 96725 808-324-4427 808-324-4129 (fax) par@agroforestry.net www.agroforestry.net

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Family Scientific Name:	Moraceae
Family Common Name:	Fig
Scientific Name:	Artocarpus mariannensis Tr‚cul
Common Synonym:	Artocarpus integrifolia sensu Merrill
Common Name:	Seeded breadfruit, Marianas breadfruit, Dugdug (Chamorro), Dokdok (Chamorro), Ebiei (Palauan) , Maiyah (Puluwatese)
Ecotype:	Limestone and ravine forests, from coastal to lower mountain slopes in the humid tropics.
General Distribution:	Guam and Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, limestone and ravine forests, from coastal to lower mountain slopes Republic of Palau, Federated States of Micronesia, Kiribati, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Nauru, mainly atolls and coastal plains.
Propagation Goal:	plants
Propagation Method:	seed
ProductType:	Container (plug)
Time To Grow:	8 Months
Target Specifications:	Seedlings have reached target when approximately 30 cm in height, stem diameter 9 mm, with well-formed root systems that are not root-bound but that fill out the container.
Propagule Collection:	Bears fruit continuously, with a peak in July-September. Various cultivars fruit at different times, extending the season of availability.
Propagule Processing:	Fruits are opened carefully with a knife so as not to damage too many seeds. Seeds should be thoroughly rinsed in water to remove any remaining pulp juice or residue. Seeds may be air-dried in the shade for about an hour for ease of handling, but should not be allowed to dry out. They should be planted immediately, they do not store more than a few weeks at most. Germination for seed sown within a few days of planting is usually high, around 90%.
Pre-Planting Treatments:	No pretreatment is required. However, rinsing the seeds in water to clean off sugars is recommended.
Growing Area Preparation/ Annual Practices for Perennial Crops:	Breadfruit seedlings should be grown in moderate to heavy shade. Rodents and (especially rats) other predators may seek out and eat germinating breadfruit seeds, and the nursery area should be protected from them. Containers used are one gallon root-training hard plastic pots, or copper-coated grow bags of similar size may also work well. A well-drained media is used such as 50% Sunshine peat moss, 25% perlite, 25% vermiculite, amended with a little compost, dolomite lime, gypsum, and slow-release fertilizer such as osmocote 14-14-14. Potting media should also be inoculated with VAM (mycorrhizal fungi), available from commercial suppliers and garden centers.
Establishment Phase:	Seeds are sown at a depth of 2 cm. Seeds are laid flat. The media can be topped by a thin layer of mulch such as #2 poultry grit. Germination begins in 2-3 weeks, and may take longer (up to 6 weeks) if seeds were stored more that a few days after collection. Water with a fine-headed sprayer to keep moist. Daily water is usually necessary, by hand or with an automated system. Breadfruit seedlings tend to grow slowly at first.
Length of Establishment Phase:	6 - 8 weeks
Active Growth Phase:	Seedlings continue to be grown in moderate to heavy shade, protected from wind. Keep seedlings spaced out to allow adequate sun and ventilation. Amending with additional fertilizer such as a light top dressing of Gro-More 8-8-8 will aid in growth and development. If any weeds enter the soil-free media, they should be removed. Diseases and pests are not a major concern with breadfruit in the nursery.
Length of Active Growth Phase:	4 months
Hardening Phase:	Young breadfruit plants grow best in partial shade, so full sun hardening is often not necessary. However, if the seedlings are to be planted in full sun, the plants should be gradually moved to full sun conditions during their final 2 months in the nursery to harden them to the site conditions. Seedlings should never be allowed to dry out or be exposed to strong wind.
Length of Hardening Phase:	2 months
Harvesting, Storage and Shipping:	When seedlings have reached target size, they may be delivered to the planting site. They are not extracted from their container or stored before shipping. Keeping them in their container is necessary to protect the roots. Seedlings must be protected from wind and excessive heat during transport, but refrigeration is not recommended. Empty containers and trays may be returned after the planting is complete.
References:	Manner, H. (publication pending for 2003). Species Profile for Artocarpus mariannensis. Permanent Agriculture Resources, Holualoa, HI. Morton, Julia F. 1987. Fruits of Warm Climates. Creative Resource Systems, Winterville, N.C. Verheij, E.W.M. and R.E. Coronel, Eds. 1992. Plant Resources of Southeast Asia No. 2: Edible Fruits and Nuts. PROSEA, Bogor, Indonesia.

Citation:

Elevitch, Craig R.; Wilkinson, Kim M.. 2003. Propagation protocol for production of Container (plug) Artocarpus mariannensis Tr‚cul plants Permanent Agriculture Resources Holualoa, Hawaii. In: Native Plant Network. URL: https://NativePlantNetwork.org (accessed 2024/05/06). US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, National Center for Reforestation, Nurseries, and Genetic Resources.