About Jackfruit and other Moraceae

The horticulturally important Moraceae family includes edible fruits such as Artocarpus heterophyllus (jackfruit), A. alitilis (breadfruit), A. integer (chempedak), A. odoratissimus, A. rigidus, and A. lakoocha. Jackfruit and breadfruit are the most important among all the edible Moraceae. Jackfruit is now grown in about 90 countries of the world. However, although it is well known and widely used and cultivated, it remains underutilized because it has hardly undergone any scientific improvement. The enhancement of currently underutilized crops is a key to food security, to the conservation of biological diversity and to the preservation and restoration of fragile and degraded environments throughout the world.

The International Society for Horticultural Science organized the first International Symposium on Jackfruit and other Moraceae in Bangladesh in 2012, where jackfruit is the national fruit of the country. The symposium provided a platform for interaction by academia, researchers, and extension and industry specialists, who deliberated on a number of challenges facing producers of jackfruit and other Moraceae crops. During this symposium it was felt that a Working Group should be formed to address ways to increase the use of these crops for food, nutrition, medicinal and industrial products.

The Working Group Jackfruit and other Moraceaea organizes symposia that cover all aspects of research and development related to these species including:

• Genetics, breeding and biotechnology,
• Propagation and production technology,
• Reproductive and plant physiology,
• Pest and disease management,
• Postharvest technology and value-addition.

To join this Working Group sign in to your ISHS user account, navigate to "Working Groups" and tick the box "Member" next to "Working Group Jackfruit and other Moraceae" before confirming the update with the button in the bottom of the page.