Kwai muk - Artocarpus hypargyreus

Description and Uses

Artocarpus hypargyreus (Kwai muk) is a tropical tree from South China. It is mainly grown for its fruit crops (medium shelflife), but also Other uses include; alcohol, fruit, ornamental and timber can be produced. The crop is harvested by ground gathering. It starts flowering after 3 - 5 years. The first yield will be 30 kg/year fruits but in its top season there will be a yield of 60 kg/year fruits. The fruit is edible. Medical uses include; it is medically used as high vitamin-C content. The wood contains hypargystilbene A (? - ?). The tree`s wood is called Kwai muk wood and has a density of 500 - 600 kg/m³. Regarding firewood production the tree`s growing speed is slow, its energetic value is 3900 ckal/kg and the wood`s drying speed is medium; for firewood production it is not ideal. After 40 years the tree can be totally removed as it reached its commercial and ecological goal. Artocarpus hypargyreus has a lifespan of 75 years.

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Environmental limitations

The tree is 7 meters tall. It is slow growing and tolerates not less light than shade tolerant. Artocarpus hypargyreus has a shallow root-system and forms symbiotic relations Glomus hoi,Glomus intraradices,Glomus mosseae (endo-mycorrhiza). It is not able to fix nitrogen. The tree`s flower-morphology is monoecious and is pollinated by bees. Artocarpus hypargyreus is evergreen and not allelopathic and has no thorns.

Artocarpus hypargyreus thrives in an altitude of 100 to 1700 meters above sea-level (tropical). The minimum temperature is -4°C and optimally between 19 - 28°C. The optimal rainfall is 1950 mm/year. Without irrigation the annual rainfall should be between 850 - 2200 mm (L/m²). The optimal soil-pH is between 5.0 - 6.0 in a soil texture of sand. To salt it is intolerant to wind a bit tolerant and to fire intolerant.

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Pests and Diseases

has no pests and there are no significant diseases diseases.

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Seed Propagation

Seeds are recalcitrant and can be stored for 2 months. There are approximative 75 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.

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