.svg)
Breadfruit Database
Mei kakano
Artocarpus altilis
Geographic Distribution
Region: Polynesia | Country: Marquesas Islands | Collection Site: Nuku Hiva Island
Distribution: Marquesas Islands
Plant Characteristics
Fruit
Shape: Broad Ovoid, Ellipsoid
Skin Texture: Irregularly raised with flattened sections, Sandpapery
Flesh Color: Creamy, Light yellow, Yellow
Weight (g): 1093 avg (846 min - 1606 max)
Edible Portion (%): No Information
Length (cm): 15 avg (13 min - 17 max)
Width (cm): 13 avg (11 min - 14 max)
Core Length (cm): 10 avg (7 min - 12 max)
Core Width (cm): 4 avg (3 min - 6 max)
Seeds: Seeded
Leaves
Length (cm): 34 avg (23 min - 49 max)
Width (cm): 26 avg (17 min - 36 max)
Lateral Lobe Count: 6 avg (5 min - 8 max)
Male flowers
Length (cm): 21 avg (14 min - 28 max)
Width (cm): 3 avg (2 min - 4 max)
Notes:
Very easy to cook. Boil or roast in pan in oven. Keeps only one day.
Collected By Diane Ragone
Collection Site
Map shows a generalized GPS point based on collection site location; exact origin may differ.
Geographical Information
Geographical information associated with living collections accessions at botanical gardens includes details on the native origin, collection site, and habitat of each plant. This data helps track the genetic diversity, ecological preferences, and conservation status of species. Accurate geographical records support research, restoration efforts, and the cultivation of plants in environments similar to their natural habitats.
Morphological Measurements
Measurements were taken 10 times for each tree or group of trees of a particular variety, using 10 individual fruits, male flowers, and leaves, respectively (Ragone & Wiseman, 2007). The following were selected for measurement:
Leaves: The third fully expanded leaf from the tip of a mature branch.
Fruit: Mature, firm, but not yet ripe fruit.
Male Flowers: Fully emerged male flowers.
Seasonality
Over a 10-year period, fruiting seasonality was observed in the breadfruit collections at Kahanu Garden (Maui) and McBryde Garden (Kaua‘i) within the National Tropical Botanical Gardens (Liu et al., 2014). Tree canopies were visually examined for the presence of full-sized, mature, and ripe fruit.
Full-sized fruit: Fruit at maximum size but not yet mature.
Mature fruit: Fruit displaying distinctive characteristics of maturation.
Ripe fruit: Fruit that were soft and ripe on the tree.
References
Jones, A. M. P., Murch, S. J., Wiseman, J., & Ragone, D. (2013). Morphological diversity in breadfruit (Artocarpus, Moraceae): Insights into domestication, conservation, and cultivar identification. Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution, 60(1), 175–192. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10722-012-9824-8
Liu, Y., Jones, A. M. P., Murch, S. J., & Ragone, D. (2014). Crop productivity, yield and seasonality of breadfruit (Artocarpus spp., Moraceae). Fruits, 69(5), 345–361. https://doi.org/10.1051/fruits/2014023
Ragone, D. & Wiseman, J. (2007). Developing and Applying Descriptors For Breadfruit Germplasms. Acta Hortic, 757, 71–80. https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2007.757.8