Breadnut - Artocarpus camansi
Description and Uses
Artocarpus camansi (Breadnut) is a tropical tree from Malaysia & Indonesia. It is mainly grown for its nut crops (long shelflife), but also Other uses include; apiculture, fodder, fruit, fuel, mulch, nut, ornamental, poison herbicide and timber can be produced. The crop is harvested by hand picking. It starts flowering after 8 - 10 years. The first yield will be 80 seeds/fruit but in its top season there will be a yield of 700 fruits/year. The fruit is edible. Medical uses include; it is medically used as anti-arthritic activity. The - contains - n/a - (0% - 0%). There is breadnut oil extracted by hexane solvent extration from the tree`s seed/nut yielding 7 - 8% oil. The tree`s wood is called breadnut wood and has a density of 500 - 610 kg/m³. Regarding firewood production the tree`s growing speed is fast, its energetic value is 4500 ckal/kg and the wood`s drying speed is medium; for firewood production it is not ideal. After 30 years the tree can be totally removed as it reached its commercial and ecological goal. Artocarpus camansi has a lifespan of 70 years.
Environmental limitations
The tree is 14 meters tall. It is fast growing and tolerates not less light than partial shade. Artocarpus camansi has a shallow root-system and forms symbiotic relations it has symbiotic associations with the Glomus intraradices fungus. (endo-mycorrhiza). It is not able to fix nitrogen. The tree`s flower-morphology is monoecious and is pollinated by bees. Artocarpus camansi is evergreen and not allelopathic and has no thorns.
Artocarpus camansi thrives in an altitude of 0 to 1550 meters above sea-level (tropical). The minimum temperature is 0°C and optimally between 21 - 32°C. The optimal rainfall is 3200 mm/year. Without irrigation the annual rainfall should be between 1300 - 3800 mm (L/m²). The optimal soil-pH is between 6.0 - 7.0 in a soil texture of sand. To salt it is a bit tolerant to wind 4 and to fire intolerant.
Pests and Diseases
Ceratitis capitata,Ceratitis silvestrii and Angular leaf spot,Boxwood blight,Wilding blight diseases.
Seed Propagation
Seeds are recalcitrant and can be stored for 1 months. There are approximative 120 seeds/kg. The seeds can be propagated as followed: (1) Store harvested seeds in water or in the fruit at room temperature, (2) Soak the seeds overnight in warm water before sowing., (3) press the seeds twice its size in the soil soil.
