Zainudin Haji Meon Horticulture Research Center, MARDI, P.O.Box 12301, 50774 Kuala Lumpur. (zmeon@mardi.gov.

my)

24th Malaysian Society of Plant Physiology Conference

Innovative Plant Productivity and Quality 27-29 August 2013 PrinzPark Resort Terengganu, Malaysia

Jackfruit remained traditionally less important fruit crop in the 1970s and 1980s. Area 3,133 ha in 2005 to 3,559 ha. in 2010 with the production of 17,624 m.t to 19,516 m.t., respectively. The steady increase improved cultural management, varietal selection, post harvest handling, new market outlets and government initiatives. In the Economic Transformation Programme (ETP), Agriculture National Key Economic Areas (NKEA) and Entry Point Projects (EPPs) the government aims to double agriculture sectors contribution to gross national income (GNI) and upgrading capabilities to produce fruits for premium markets. Jackfruits has become one of the important fruits in the Entry Point Projects (EPP) besides, papaya (Eksotika), pineapple(MD2), rockmelons (KR ), starfruits (B10) and banana (Cavendish).

Early research in jackfruits were focussed on pests and disease control varietal selection and recently minimally process studies in post harvest . However, fruit quality problems particularly rusty fruit flesh incidence occurred in some varieties. There are three varieties commercially grown namely; Mastura (J35), Mantin (J29) and Tekam Yellow (J33), the latter has mostly been affected by fruit pulp quality. Sariah (1999) confirmed this disorder was not caused by pathological diseases such as Erwinia or Phytopthora but due to nutrient imbalances. Reports showed that rusty in fruit pulp of jackfruits occurred during wet spells. The fruit pulp hardened and its flesh changed from yellow to brownish yellow that makes the fruit inedible, ess crunchy, bitter, not visually accepted to customers as such fruits are not marketable. This has caused losses to growers and the problems still remained unresolved although jackfruit has been considered a versatile crop.

The understanding of nutrient contents in both soil and plant as well as correct fertilization and agro-management procedures will help to reduce existing problems that could boost the jackfruit industry sustainability. Therefore, this paper will discuss nutrient content of rusty pulp incidence as to ascertain what elements that involved in this phenomenon.

Rust affected and non-rust affected CLEAN fruits of J33 variety were collected from Rofken Farm and Saujana Farm, respectively Lanchang, Temerloh, Pahang. The samples were then sent to lab and separated into different parts. The fruit flake (pulp), undeveloped perianth, pith and endocarp (skin) were oven-dried, grounded and stored at room temperature for nutrient analysis using autoanalyser.

Flake

Pith
Perianth Endocarp

Leave samples obtained from J33 trees were carried out from both farms for foliar analysis. Soil pH , conductivity and soluble P were taken at soil depths i.e. 15 cm (6in) and 30 cm (12 in). Eight elements were analysed vizly; Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P) ; Potassium (K), Calcium (Ca) , Magnesium ( Mg), Manganese (Mn), Boron ( B) and Zinc ( Zn). The standard of nutrient elements was based on SRM 1547: Peach leaves (NIST); SRM 1573a: Tomato leaves (NIST) (Certified Reference Material). A complete randomized design was adopted and data was analysed using SAS procedures. A T- test using PROC TTEST method was plotted to test means significance.

Variety Tekam Mantin Subang Yellow (J33) (J29) Parameter Fruit weight (kg) 15.11 22.69 18.12 Flake weight w/o seeds / fruit (kg) 7.77 11.03 9.18 Flake numbers 198 209 141 Recovery rate (%) 44.28 49.16 42.77 Percentage of rust (%) 38.46 0.00 0.00
Table 1. Fruit characteristics in three jackfruit varieties

Nutrient contents in non-affected and affected rust incidence in flake , perianth,pith and endocarp of jackfruits in J33 variety is shown in Table 2

Nutrient contents in two jackfruit farms cultivated with J33 varieties in Lanchang, Temerloh Pahang is shown Table 3

pH, conductivity and soluble P in two jackfruit farms in Lanchang,Temerloh is shown in Table 4

Table 5

RUMUSAN LAPORAN KUALITI NANGKA PPPTR APRIL 2012 Similar occurrence of pulp rust incidence in FELDA
TAHUN % Buah yang Bersaiz Kecil (<10 k/biji) 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 % Isi Karat 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 JAN 18.6 9.7 12.2 14.7 25.2 19.8 26.4 16.9 19.9 30.8 24.7 14.37 17.05 FEB 16.6 13.7 12.4 19.4 29.9 16.1 15.1 8.47 6.15 20.1 5.5 14.1 30.9 MAC 18.6 25.7 16.2 19.7 18.2 24.9 0 13.3 3.0 18.3 2.0 12.0 12.7 APRIL 16.7 21.6 23.2 4.8 21.1 28.6 37.5 9.8 15.2 2.6 0.0 14.5 12.73 11.3 23.5 2.5 10.6 6.1 8.3 14.2 4.1 2.5 5.8 6.6 21.3 7.83 3.1 4.1 10 7.38 12.4 2.65 10.2 4.23 7.5 14.55 7.9 15.2 13.4 3.5 9.6 12.4 16.1 26.3 16.4 4.97 15.9 12.3 15.6 7.5 15.0 8.7 16.9 8.9 7.2 36.0 29.8 4.1 16.1 33.1 41.5 MEI 13.0 25.5 37.7 11.2 19.5 0.0 JUN 21.9 28.2 15.5 8.2 18.9 13.6 JULAI 8.3 15.6 4.6 9.2 10.7 6.6 OGOS 8.6 12.8 3.8 13.4 10.7 21.2 SEPT 14.5 41.1 11.4 9.3 14.5 22.9 OKT 14.7 17.1 25.5 19.0 15.3 22.7 NOV 13.3 11.1 8.2 12.4 6.8 15.5 DIS 13.8 4.7 13.6 12.0 24.2 15.9 Purata 14.9 18.9 15.4 12.8 17.9 17.3 19.8 14.1 13.3 8.9 10.4 13.0 17.0

2012
% Ulas Kecil/Nipis 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

17.0
5.2 4.5 2.2 5.3 6.3 10.1 8.5

15.1
2.1 1.7 0.0 4.4 8.7 6.7 11.3

20.0
2.2 0.9 8.7 4.1 4.4 8.5 0

16.7
3.9 4.7 8.6 0.0 9.7 8.5 8.3 6.1 7.2 1.2 2.7 3.7 8.3 8.6 2.3 3.7 3.5 3.5 10.6 2.4 0.3 2.3 3.1 8.6 8.1 2.3 2.9 9.5 5.0 7.0 4.8 5.3 4.7 4.7 3.7 10.3 7.6 4.6 5.2 2.2 8.4 13.7 13.3 5.0 12.5 8.7 12.3 7.9 6.8 3.2 9.5 5.4 6.5 10.8 10.2

17.2
4.2 4.7 4.8 4.9 7.9 8.6 7.0

Rainfall data in FELDA PPPTR, Sg Tengi Pahang

KUANTITI HUJAN (MM)

Tahun

Jan

Feb

Mac

Apr

Mei

Jun

Jul

Ogo

Sept

Okt

Nov

Dis

Jumlah

2010

72.7

73.2

25.8

193.7

229.8

387.7

215.3

91.8

201.7

70.0

241.9

327.0

2,130.6

2011

176.6

29.9

396.6

78.8

86.4

125.0

86.8

146.3

110.0

182.1

246.8

206.8

1,870.1

Result Summary
Results showed that within the three varieties,
J33 variety had 38.5% rust incidence compared to none both in Subang, and J29 (Mantin). However, fruit weight (kg), flake weight w/o seeds / fruit (kg), flake numbers and recovery rate (%) showed not much differences (Table 1). Four elements were found to be significantly less in rust-affected flake namely; P, K , Cu and Fe except Mg (Table 2). Rust-affected perianth also showed significantly less in Cu. While, both affected and non-affect pith and affected and anon-affected endocarp had no elemental differences. At farm level, four elements namely; P, Cu, Al and Mn were found to be higher in Rofken Farm than Saujana Farm al although Fe and Mn was found significant low.

Soil pH, conductivity and soluble P had no significant differences. Deductions could be made that rust-affected fruit flakes and the farms (Rofken) had common elemental uptake namely; P , Fe, and Cu. However, Fe showed singly consistent and significantly less in both in rust-affected flake and Rofken Farm. Therefore, it could demonstrated Fe is the main element that occurred deficient in rust affected fruit and at farm level.

Whats next ?

Experimental flow

Conclusions Tekam Yellow (J33) has highest rust incidence compared to Subang and Mantin (J29) variety as proven by earlier findings. The edible portion of jackfruits i.e flake or fruit pulp was highly influenced by macro and micro nutrients particularly P , K , Fe, Mg and Cu that might caused pulpy rust. However, inedible portions such as pith and endocarp were not influenced nutrient uptake except perianth (Cu). Fe was found to be the main element that occurred less in both rustaffeted fruit and at farm level (Rofken Farm).

The uptake of nutrients is believed to be affected by environmental conditions like rainfall. More results needed to be sought as to ascertain strong relationship of nutrient imbalance between plant-soil in order to provide proper corrective measures and cultural practices to overcome rust incidence.

Acknowledgment Mohd. Safidin bin Kashim and Dr.Rahman Milan for their collaboration work in this project. This project was funded by Esciencefund Project No.RH5053SF10

Researchers / students are welcomed to collaborate with me if they are interested.

Thank You