CHAPTER 1

The Importance of Fruit and

Plantation Crops
The Importance of Fruit and Plantation Crops

Fruit and plantation crops comprise the

largest group of horticultural crops grown
in the Philippines.
Planted to about 4 million hectares, more
than one third of the total cropping area
Combined production of more than 25
million metric tons (BAS).
Valued at nearly 140 billion pesos, these crops
provided significant sources of income to
thousands of growers, and livelihood
opportunities to thousands others involved in
the processing and trading of these
commodities.
Processed fruit products of Kablon Fruit
Products in Mindanao
Among the numerous members of the
group, the major ones in terms of
revenue are coconut, banana, mango,
pineapple, coffee, calamansi, abaca and
rubber.
Major fruit crops in terms of
revenue

Citrofortunella microcarpa
Major plantation crops in terms of
revenue
Hevea brasiliensis

Musa textilis
• As major source of export earnings
Although bulk of the produce is consumed
locally
About 1.8 billion US dollars from export of
products derived from coconut, banana,
mango pineapple, coffee and cacao (BAS).
Export winner: fruit & plantation crops
 Nutritional contribution

 As major sources of nutrient for contents

(Bautista, 1994):
Carbohydrate
a. Banana 38.6 %
b. Durian 36 “
c. Tiesa 39 “
d. Coconut 12 “
e. Cacao 20-25 “
f. Cashew kernel 20 “
Protein
a. Cacao 15-25 %
b. Cashew 19 “
c. Banana blossom 18-25 “
Fats
a. Pili 69 %
b. Cashew kernel 50 “
c. Cacao 50 “
d. Avocado 5.8 “
e. Coconut 5.5 “
Vitamin C
a. Cashew apple 197 mg per 100 g
b. Guava 126 “
c. Papaya 89 “
d. Mango 47-73 “
e. Calamansi 49 “
 Sources of Vitamin C

Citrofortunella microcarpa
 Fruit crops are primarily consumed fresh but most of
them are also processed into jam, jelly, juice, wine,
vinegar, candy, chip, dried
 As ingredients/flavorings for ice cream, pie and
bakery products.
 Sour fruits like camias, tamarind, calamansi, batuan
are used as flavoring for native dishes like the famous
“sinigang”.
 Sour fruits for flavoring
Averrhoa bilimbi

Garcinia binucao
Citrofortunella microcarpa
Most fruit crops have medicinal properties
and are traditionally used to cure certain
ailments
Lumber extracted from full-grown trees of
jackfruit, mabolo and tamarind has excellent
and unique qualities and are used for specialty
items.
 Specialty items from lumber of fruit trees

Diospyros blancoi
Artocarpus heterophyllus

Tamarindus indica
Latex from papaya (papain), chico (chicle) and
pili (manila elemi) has various industrial and
pharmaceutical uses.
The tree of pili, tamarind, mabolo, chico and,
caimito are strong and utilized as windbreak
trees to minimize damage of strong wind to
agricultural crops.
A specific group of plantation crops (medicinal
crops) are grown mainly for its medicinal and
curative properties and are being used to treat
various ailments.
Some of them like lagundi, sambong and others
are now commercially available as FDA-
registered medicines.
 The Department of Health had approved the use
of the following medicinal crops that passed
clinical testing: lagundi, yerba buena, sambong,
tsaang gubat, pansit-pansitan, niyog-niyogan,
akapulko, ampalaya, guava and garlic.
Fruits with medicinal values

Ficus pseudopalma

Garcinia mangostana
Fruit and plantation crops also play a vital role
in keeping the integrity of our ecosystem.
Now being used in the National Greening
Program of DENR.
As major components of agroforestry system,
they provide protection to fragile upland soil
by reducing the rate of erosion and minimizing
flashfloods and landslides in hilly farmlands.
 QUIZ #1
NAME 5 MAJOR FRUIT AND PLANTATION CROPS
GROWN IN THE PHILIPPINES
 CHAPTER 2

Classification of Fruits
and Plantation Crops
Classification of Fruits and Plantation Crops

Fruits and plantation crops consist of

numerous species.
There are 318 known fruit-bearing
species, of which only 56 are grown by
farmers (Bautista, 1994).
More than 2,000 species of plantation crops
but only 21 are commercially grown.
Due to this large number, it becomes
necessary to group these crop species
according to some useful and convenient
means of classification.
 System(s) of grouping would make it easier to
refer to them without the need to enumerate
them one by one
 Many systems of classification have been
proposed. Considered most useful are:
 Botanical system and horticultural
classification.
 Botanical Classification
the most important system; it is based on
several characters, and known genetic
relationships.
Under this system, plants are classified into
four divisions.
 Botanical Classification
 Among them, Spermatophytes is the most
agriculturally important division because all crops in
cultivation today belong to this group.
 further classified into two sub-divisions:
Gymnospermae which includes all plants with naked
seeds like pine tree, and Angiospermae which
groups all plants having seeds that are enclosed with
certain structures.
 Botanical Classification
It is in the latter group where all agricultural
crops belong.
Some plants have only one cotyledon in its
seed and they belong to Class
Monocotyledonae.
Other crops have seeds that contain two
cotyledons and they belong to Class
Dicotyledonae
 Botanical Classification
Plants belonging to these two classes are
further group into order and into family.
Below is an example on how mango fits into
the above-mentioned units of classifications.
 Botanical Classification
Division : Spermatophytes
Sub-division : Angiospermae
Class : Dicotyledonae
Order : Sapindales
Family : Anacardiaceae
Genus : Mangifera
Species : indica
Scientific name : Mangifera indica Linn
 Botanical Classification
Mango is scientifically known as Mangifera
indica Linn, a name given by Linneaus which is
universally understood worldwide.
The genus Mangifera has many other species
which are closely related to other genera
belonging to the Family Anacardiaceae (Table
1).
 Table 1. Botanical classification of fruit crops (Bautista, 1994)

Family Scientific Name English Name

Anarcadiaceae Anarcadium occidentale L. Cashew
Mangifera indica L. Mango

Spondias purpurea L. Purple mombin

Annonaceae Annona muricata L. Soursop

Annona reticula L. Custard apple

Annona squamosa L. Sugar apple

Bombacaceae Durio zibethenus Murr. Durian

Bromeliaceae Ananas comosus (L.) Merr. Pineapple
Burseraceae Canarium ovatum Engl. Pili nut
Caesalpiniaceae Tamarindus indica L. Tamarind
Caricaceae Carica papaya L. Papaya
Clusiaceae Garcinia mangostana L. Mangosteen
Ebenaceae Diospyros discolor Willd. Mabolo
Lauraceae Persea americana Mill. Avocado
var. Americana

Mimosaceae Pithecellobium dulce Camachile

(Roxb.) Benth

Malpighiaceae Malpighia glabra L. Acerola

Meliaceae Lansium domesticum Corr. Lanzones
Sandoricum koetjape Santol

(Burm. F) Merr.

Moraceae Artocarpus altilis Breadfruit

(Parkins.) Fosb.

Artocarpus camansi Seeded breadfruit

Blco.

Artocarpus heterophyllus Jackfruit

Lam.
Artocarpus odoratissimus Marang
Blco.
Musaceae Musa pp. Banana

Myrtaceae Psidium guajava L. Guava

Syzgium cumini (L.) Skeels Java plum

Syzgium samarangense Macopa

(Blm.) Merr & Perr.

Oxalidaceae Averrhoa bilimbi L. Bilimbi
Averrhoa carambola L. Starfruit

Passifloraceae Passiflora edulis Sims Purple granadilla

Passiflora quadrangularis L. Giant granadilla
Punicaceae Punica granatum L. Pomegranate,
Granada
Rosaceae Fragaria vesca L. subsp. Vesca Strawberry
Rutaceae xCitrofortunella mitis (Blco.) Calamansi
J.
Ingram & Moore
Citrus aurantifolia (Christtm. True lime
& Panz)
Swingle
Citrus latifolia (Lour.) Lime (Tahiti)
Citrus limon (L.) Burm. F. Lemon
Citrus maxima (Burm.) Merr. Pummelo
Citrus nobilis Lour. King mandarin
Citrus reticulata Mandarin
 Blco. Var. ladu

Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck Sweet orange

Sapindaceae Nephelium lappaceum L. Rambutan

Litchi chinensis Sonn. Lychee, litchi

Sapotaceae Chrysophyllum cainito L. Star apple, caimito

Manilkara zapota (L.) P. Sapota
Royen
Pouteria campechiana Canistel

H.B.K. Baehni

Vitaceae Vitis vinifera L. Grape

Source: Bautista, 1994
 Table 2. Botanical classification of Plantation Crops

Family Scientific Name English Name

Agavaceae Agave cantala Roxb. Maguey
Agave sisalana Perr. Sisal

Aracaceae Arenga pinnata (Wumb) Sugar palm

Merr.
Cocos nucifera L. Coconut

Elaeis guineensis Jacq. African oil palm

Asteraceae Blumea balsamifera (L.) DC Nagi camphor

Bixaceae Bixa orellana L. Annato; Lipstick
tree
Bombacaceae Ceiba pentandra (L.) Gaertn Silk-cotton tree
Combretaceae Quisqualis indica L. Rangoon creeper
Euphorbiaceae Aleurites moluccana L. Wild. Tung
Hevea brasiliensis Wild. Ex Rubber

A. Juss.) Muell. Arg.

Ricinus communis L. Castor bean

Lamiaceae Mentha arvensis L. Japanese mint

Lauraceae Canella verum J.S. Presl. Cinnamon
Lythraceae Lagerstroemia (L.) speciosa Banaba
Pers.
Musaceae Musa textilis Nee Abaca
Orchidaceae Vanilla planifolia Andr. Vanilla
Piparaceae Piper nigrum L. Black pepper
Rubiaceae Coffea sp. Coffee
Sterculiaceae Theobroma cacao L. Cacao
Subsp. Cacao

Theaceae Camellia sinensis (L.) O. Kuntze Tea

var.
sinensis L.

Verbenaceae Vitex negundo L. Five-leaved chaste

Zingiberaceae Curcuma longa L. Turmeric
Source: Bautista,
 Botanical Classification
For practical significance, it is important to
know the classification or grouping of a
crop to at least the family level
this information is useful as guide in
variety improvement, site selection,
propagation and in many other aspects of
crop production.
 Horticultural classification
The other system of classification is
traditionally based primarily on grouping the
various crops into either agronomic or
horticultural depending on how intensive they
are grown and how they are used.
This system of classification is highly artificial
and is not mutually exclusive.
 Horticultural classification
For example, corn is considered an agronomic
crop if it is grown and harvested at mature
stage and to be used for food, feeds and other
industrial uses.
However, it is considered a horticultural crop if
it is grown, harvested and used as green corn as
in the case of glutinous and sweet corn
varieties.
 Horticultural classification
Horticultural crops are further classified into
four major groups on the basis of primary uses
and cultural (including post-harvest)
requirements; namely: fruit crops, plantation
crops, vegetable crops and ornamental crops.
the basis of grouping them is highly arbitrary.
 Horticultural classification
Fruit crops include crops that bear edible
fruits that are usually consumed fresh, either
at full or partially-ripe stage.
In contrast, plantation crops are those crops
that require primary processing to convert the
raw produce into saleable and storable form.
 Horticultural classification
The resulting primary products are then
used as raw materials for industrial
processing, hence they are also called
industrial crops.
 Horticultural classification
Fruit crops are classified according to the
growth habit of the plants on which the
fruits are borne.
Tree fruits are group of fruit crops where
fruits are borne on trees.
 Horticultural classification
Majority of fruits crops belong to this
category which include mango, lanzones,
durian, rambutan, jackfruit, mangosteen
Nut fruit is another group in which the fruits
are also borne on trees but the fruits are
enclosed by a stony or leathery structure.
 Horticultural classification
Pili, cashew, macadamia, pistachio and
almond belong to this group.
Small fruits are those species whose
plants are either herbaceous such as
banana, papaya, and pineapple or viny
like grapes and passion fruit.
 Nut fruit crops
Wallnut (Juglans regia)

Macadamia integrifolia

Canarium ovatum Anacardium occidentale Hazel nut (Corylus avellana)

Pistacio (Pistacia vera) Almond (Prunus dulcis)

Plantation crops are classified according to
their useful components.
Oil plantation crops are crops which are
grown primarily for their oil content.
Examples are coconut, African oil palm and
castor.
 Oil plantation crops

African oil palm (Elaeis guineensis)

Castor (Ricinus communis)

Fiber crops are those grown for their fibers
which are used for textile, cordage, pulp, paper,
sacks, bag, etc.
Examples are abaca, buri, kapok and sisal
Beverage crops are grown for products that are
used for brewing non-alcoholic drinks like
coffee, cacao and tea
Beverage crops grown in plantation
 Horticultural classification
Latex and resin crops which are grown for
their latex and resins.
Belonging to this group are rubber, pili, chico
and papaya that produces latex, elimi, chicle
and papain, respectively.
Latex & resin crops
Spice, condiment and essence crops
provide flavor, scent and color which are
used on food, soap, perfume.
Examples are blackpepper, vanilla,
citronella, laurel and achuete.
Spice, condiment and essence crops

Vanilla planifolia

Atchuete (Annato
cuchinta)
Laurel (Laurus nobilis)
Medicinal and pesticidal crops include
plants with curative and pesticidal
properties such as banaba, lagundi,
neem tree
Medicinal and pesticidal crops

Banaba
(Lagerstroemia
speciosa)

Neem (Azadirachta
indica)
 CHAPTER 3

Review of Morphology and

Functions of Plant Parts
 Roots
The root system
– anchors the plant into the soil
– determines how well the plant could tolerate
adverse growing conditions such as drought,
excessive soil moisture, salinity, typhoon, soil-
borne pathogens, and extreme soil pH.
 Roots
Most have taproot system enabling them to
adapt to adverse growing conditions.
development of tap root is influenced by soil
factors and by the type of planting materials
used.
 Roots
For example, the extent of vertical
growth of a root system is limited by the
depth of hardpan layer.
Type of planting material
 Roots
Marcotted plants or rooted cuttings have
only adventitious roots instead of tap roots,
hence are prone to typhoon damage than
grafted plants having taproot.
 Roots
Marcot vs grafted lychee
Macots have shown very sensitive to typhoon
Grafted trees have proven tolerant to
typhoons than marcots.
Hence grafted plants are recommended as a
standard planting materials for lychee.
Litchi sinensis
 Roots
 Absorption of nutrients and water.
 This function is influenced by the characteristics of
the root system and soil and climatic conditions:
• availability of nutrients and soil moisture
• rainfall
• relative humidity
• sunshine
• temperature
 Roots
Meristematic tissue of root as site for
synthesis of cytokinins and gibberellins.
Secondary function: use of root cuttings in
breadfruit.
Other basic information about the roots that
help growers understand how the root
performs its functions and hence, can be used
as guide in management decisions and in the
actual applications of cultural practices.
 Vertical root distribution
reflects the rootzone depth or extent the roots
can explore for supply of nutrients and water.
also the same depth where fertilizer materials
and irrigation water should be placed
 Lateral root distribution
as a basis for determining appropriate
planting distance
as guide in proper placement of fertilizer and
irrigation water.
 Table 3. Vertical distribution (%) of feeder roots (< 2 mm diameter) of
lanzones (38 years old), mandarin (11 years old) and cacao (10
years old)

Depth (cm) Lanzones Citrus Cacao

54.3 81.4 34.1

0 - 30

30 - 60 30.6 18.3 27.2

60 - 90 11.4 0.3 23.4

90- 120 3.7 - 15.3

Maximum depth 120 90 120

(cm)
 Table 4. Lateral distribution (%) of feeder roots (< 2 mm diameter)
and canopy radius of lanzones (38 years old), mandarin (11 years
old) and cacao (10 years old).

Distance from Lanzones Citrus Cacao

trunk (m)

0 - 0.6 22.1 21.4 31.1

0.6 - 1.2 48.7 35.8 42.8
1.2 - 1.8 26.3 (97%) 20.6 25.0 (98,9%)
1.8 - 2.4 2.9 13.3 1.1
2.4 - 3.0 - 7.1 (98.2%) 1.5
3.0 - 3.6 - 1.5 -
Maximum length 2.4 3.6 3.0
of roots
Canopy radius (m) 1.5 1.67 1.5
 In 38-year old lanzones, 96 per cent of the feeder
roots are found on the upper 90-cm of the soil,
although some 3.7 per cent could reach up to 120 cm
depth.
 Laterally, 97 per cent of the feeder roots are found
up to 2.4 meters away from the trunk with about 3
per cent reaching up to 2.4 meters away.
The canopy radius or drip line is about
1.5 meters from the trunk.
Ten-year old ‘Criollo’ cacao trees have
similar pattern of root distribution and
canopy spread.
However, in the case of the 11-year old
‘Szinkom’ mandarin, practically all (99 per
cent) feeder roots are found only on the top
60-cm depth but are widely spread up to 3.6
m away from the trunk with 98 per cent of the
roots found within 3 m radius.
The canopy radius, however, is only 1.67 m
from the trunk.
The data clearly indicate that crop species
differ in their root distribution patterns, both
horizontally and vertically, and that in some
crops, the canopy radius which is easily
observable/measurable can be used to predict
the horizontal root distribution and therefore,
does not require digging or excavating the
roots of the tree.
 The data indicate that both lanzones and cacao can
be planted at 3 meters distance without having to
worry about competition among the roots and
canopy overlapping among the trees.
 The data also point the appropriate depth and
distance from the trunk where fertilizer and water
should be placed for an effective and efficient
utilization of such inputs.
In the case of mandarin, however, trees
should be planted not closer than 4.8 m
distance and that during fertilization and
irrigation, the materials should be applied
at around or a little beyond the canopy
dripline.
The data also suggest that there is a need
to study the root distribution pattern of
other crops and relate the data to canopy
spread in order to come up with more
accurate recommendations with regards
to planting distance and proper placement
of nutrients and water.
 Also relevant to the study of the root system are root
modifications brought about by certain
microorganisms that could be exploited in order to
reduce the use of inputs, particularly fertilizer.
 A classical example is the symbiotic relationships
between Rhizobium and leguminous plants that
enable the latter to fix atmospheric nitrogen into
utilizable form.
 Leguminous fruit crops (e.g. tamarind & kamachile)
and plantation crops (legume trees used as living
support for black pepper and vanilla) this symbiosis
can contribute nitrogen to the soil.
 Mycorrhiza is a symbiotic relationship between roots
of host plant and certain group of root-inhabiting but
non-pathogenic fungus.
Leguminous fruit crops

Kamatsile or sweet
tamarind

(Pithecellobium dulce)
This kind of relationship is beneficial to the
host plant by way of having an increased
capacity for phosphorous uptake.
There are two types of mycorrhiza.
Endomycorrhiza: the fungus penetrates the
cells of the cortex.
Ectomycorrhiza: the fungus does not
penetrate the cells but rather remains
intercellularly on the cortex and epidermis of
the host roots.
In both types, the hyphae of the fungus
extend into the soil and serve as added
absorbing organs of the host plants.
Among fruit and plantation crops, mycorrhiza
has been reported in citrus, grapes, papaya,
coffee, cacao, tea, oil palm and rubber.
 Stem
 The stem serves as the main conducting organ -
pathway for transport of nutrient and water from the
roots to the leaves and transport of foods and
metabolites to other parts of the plant.
 Serves as support to buds, leaves, flowers and fruits,
keeping them exposed to solar radiation, making the
flowers accessible to pollination, and facilitating
dispersal of fruits and seeds.
 Stem
Special functions: In grapes and passion
fruit, tendrils of the stem keep the vine
clinging to supporting structures.
In some others, the stem has been
modified serving as food storage organ e.g.
rhizome and corm; also serve as
propagating materials e.g. banana and
abaca.
 Stem
Suckers of banana, abaca and pineapple and
runners of blackpepper are all modified stem
structures and which are used as commercial
propagules.
The stem consists of buds which give rise to
leaves, flowers and branches.
 Stem
Buds are either terminal, lateral or both and
serve as structural basis of canopy growth and
extension.
Knowledge of the kinds of bud and their origin
on the stem is important in training, pruning,
propagation and flower induction.
 Flower
A flower or inflorescence is a shoot of
limited growth and consists of structures
where sexual reproduction takes place.
it originates either from the terminal or
axil of the shoot.
Those originating from the terminal shoots are
called terminal flowers such as banana, abaca,
pineapple and buri palm.
In such monocot plants, flowering occurs only
once and therefore signals the termination of
growth of the plant.
Buri palm (Corypha elata)
 In dicot plants with terminal flowers like mango,
rambutan, cashew and avocado, the axillary buds
below the bearing shoot develop into new flush
of leaves that eventually become the next fruiting
shoots. Hence, fruiting is seasonal.
 In some crops, flowers originate directly from the
axillary buds as in the case of papaya, coconut, oil
palm and kaong.
Kaong or Sugar palm (Arenga
pinnata)
 In such crops, flowering is continuous and
therefore fruits are produced throughout the
year.
In other species like lanzones, durian,
jackfruit, cacao and coffee, flowers are borne
along the stem and/or main branches.
They are called cauliflorous; they are also
seasonal
Cauliflorous trees
 Flower parts
A complete flower has all its parts such as
petals, sepals, stamen and pistil.
If any of the parts is missing, then the
flower is considered incomplete.
If both stamen & pistil is functional, a
flower is perfect; if either one is
lacking/non-functional, then a flower is
imperfect or unisexual.
Therefore, a unisexual flower is either
staminate or pistillate flower.
The presence of one or both of these
flowers in individual plant determines
whether a plant is monoecious or
dioecious.
In a monoecious plant (e.g. jackfruit and
banana), pistillate and staminate flowers
are borne separately on the same plant.
In dioecious plant (e.g. pili and
rambutan), pistillate and staminate
flowers are found in different plants.
Hence, there are male plants and there are
female plants.
This has important implications on selection
of variety and establishment and
management of the orchard
will be discussed in later section (flower
regulation).
 Fruits
Botanically, a fruit is a developed ovary and its
closely associated parts.
It usually contains one or more seeds.
In some species like breadfruit, banana and
pineapple, and certain cultivars of atis and
mabolo, fruits are seedless.
 Seedless Fruits

Diospyros blancoi
 Such species and varieties are called parthenocarphic
because fruits develop even without fertilization.
 The pericarp or fruit wall of Angiosperm species is
composed of three layers, namely; exocarp
(outermost), mesocarp and endocarp (innermost)
 The nature of the pericarp is used in determining the
kinds of fruit.
A simple fruit is derived from the
development of a simple ovary.
According to the nature of its fruit wall,
simple fruits are either dry (fruit wall
becomes dry at maturity) or fleshy (fruit
wall remains fleshy at maturity).
 A simple, dry fruit is dehiscent when it cracks or
split open to dehisce the seeds.
 This kind of fruit is called capsule.
 Examples are kapok, rubber, castor, and
kamachile.
 A fruit is considered indehiscent when the fruit
wall remains closed at maturity like cashew nut,
vanilla and tamarind.
 Simple dry fruits (capsule)

Hevea brasiliensis
Ceiba pentandra

Ricinus communis Pithecellobium dulce

Indehiscent fruits
Fleshy fruits are of three kinds: berry,
hesperidium and drupe.
A berry has a thin and distinct exocarp but the
mesocarp and endocarp are fused and remain
succulent at maturity.
Examples are banana, chico, santol, papaya,
guava and starapple.
Berry fruits
Hesperidium is a special kind of berry in which
the exocarp is thick, mesocarp is spongy and
the endocarp is composed of locular
membrane which encloses the juice sacs.
Examples are pummelo, calamansi, orange,
mandarin, lemon and other citrus fruits.
 Hesperidium fruits

Citrofortunella microcarpa

Citrus reticulata Citrus x limon

Drupe has distinct layers of exocarp,
mesocarp and stony endocarp.
Examples are mango, coconut, oil palm,
pili, lumbang, black pepper and coffee.
Aggregate fruits are fruits formed from a
single flower with multiple ovaries (but having
a common stigma) adhering as a unit.
Atis, guayabano, custard apple and other
Anona species
Multiple fruits are fruits developed from
multiple flowers that are formed into a
single fleshy mass
Examples are pineapple, jackfruit,
marang, rimas & other Artocarpus
species
Accessory fruits are fruits whose fleshy
parts are derived from the enlargement
of receptacle of flower. Example: cashew
apple
 Seeds
A seed is a mature ovule, resulting from
fertilization of the egg cell and polar
nuclei.
It usually consists of an embryo,
endosperm/cotyledon and is protected
with seedcoat or testa.
2 groups of seeds
1.Orthodox seeds
seeds that can be dried to very low
moisture level without the risk of killing the
embryo
keeping the seeds at low moisture level,
they remain viable for a long time if stored
under low relative humidity and low
temperature.
Atis, chico, guayabano, tamarind, guava,
papaya, passion fruit, betel nut, coconut,
balimbing and cashew nut belong to this
group.
2.Recalcitrant seeds
seeds that can not withstand drying; otherwise
viability is much reduced or completely lost
Most fruits and plantation crops belong
to this group
mango, durian, duhat, rambutan,
jackfruit, marang, mangosteen, citrus,
avocado, lanzones, coffee, cacao, black
pepper, oil palm and rubber.
– Ways to extend viability of recalcitrant seeds.
– High level of moisture must be maintained by
storing the seeds under high relative humidity
and relatively low temperature.
by mixing the seeds with moist sand,
charcoal, sawdust or other similar materials
and then store them at relatively low
temperature.
by keeping the seeds inside the fruits for a
limited period.
Viability of seeds (durian and jackfruit) is
maintained when kept in airtight
container at 19 to 20 C.
For best result however, recalcitrant
seeds should be sown immediately after
extracting them from the fruit.