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Jamun (Syzygium cumini Skeels.) is evergreen tropical fruit belonging to the family Myrtaceae. Vernacular names for Jaman include Java Plum, Jambolana, Jambu and Black Plum. It is native to Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. It has recently attained importance as an arid zone horticulture crop because of its hardy nature and high yielding potential. Jamun fruit possesses considerable nutritive value. It is a good source of iron, apart from the usual content like minerals, sugar, proteins, pigments etc. Jamun is a miracle fruit, have lot of medicinal value control so many diseases like Diabetic, Polyurea, Diarrhea, and renal stones etc. In Pakistan, maximum number of Jamun trees is found scattered throughout the tropical and subtropical regions and no planned orchards exist yet. By considering nutritional and medicinal value Jamun needs to explore on extensive basis.

Nutritive value of Jamun fruit (100gm)

USES

• Seeds of Jamun are an effective medicine against diabetes.

• Leaves are used in a variety of tooth powder brands. They are also used as fodder for cattle, sheep and goats. They also act as food for tassar**silkworms. The essential oils are used in soap making and perfumes.

• Bark is used in tanning and dyeing industries.

• Flowers are rich in nectar and yield high quality honey when apiculture is done.

• Fruit; Jams, jellies, squashes, vinegar, juices, beverages, pickles and wine are made from the Jamun fruit.

• Wood is exceptionally strong and water resistant. Hence, it is used to make bullock cart wheels and agricultural implements. It is also used in house building. Wood also used to make railway sleepers (wooden planks on which the steel rails are laid). Water pumps which are located in wells are also supported by planks made from this wood.

• Fruit Drupe fruit emerge in clusters of different sizes. Fruit oblong or ovoid-oblong, at maturity attain dark purple color, very juicy with 1 or 2 to 5 compressed bold white or green seeds, seedless fruits are also found. Fruit skin is thin, smooth, shining and pulp is whitish purple.

MEDICINAL VALUE
• Seeds contain glucose “Jambolin” which is believed to have the power to check the pathological conversion of starch into sugar in cases of increased production of glucose. Jamun seeds also contain glycoside which inhibits the conversion of starch in to sugars, therefore, powdered seeds are useful for sugar patients.

• In Ayurveda inner bark of Jaman tree is used against diabetes.

• Polyurea; its seeds are useful in production of excess urine.

• Valuable in treatment of bleeding piles.

• Good source of iron and useful in the troubles of heart and liver.

• It is digestive and activates the liver and spleen.

• It is a good remedy for urinary diseases & diabetes.

• Regulates heartbeat.

• Purifies blood, cures anemia and stops skin eruptions.

• Stops diarrhea & dysentery.

• Relieves throat affections and other respiratory diseases.

• Removes worms.

• Vinegar made from the fruit gives relief in colitis, indigestion, stomach diseases. It relieves gas and improves digestive power.

• It breaks renal stones.


Lacks in Research
• Lack of improved varieties, Non-availability of dwarf and high yielding varieties.

• Long juvenile phase which plants take for fruiting is major obstacle for not cultivating this crop on orchard scale despite its multifarious uses.

• Research work on vegetative propagation of the crop is rather insufficient.

• Need for Germplasm conservation

• Develop nurseries and shift propagation way from sexual to asexual propagation

• Due to high medicinal values there is need to develop some value added by products.

Flowering and Fruiting
• Flowering starts in first week of March and continues up to the end of April. Flowers borne in axils of leaves on branchlets. Jamun is cross-pollinated and pollination is done by honey bees, houseflies and wind. Maximum fruit set can be obtained by hand pollination when it is done after one day of anthesis. Thereafter, a sharp decline is observed in fruit set. There is heavy drop of flowers and fruits within 3 to 4 weeks after blooming. Later natural fruit drop can be reduced with two sprays of GA3 60 ppm, one at full bloom and another 15 days after initial setting of fruits.

• The pattern of growth and fruit development of Jamun can be divided into three phases: the first phase from 15-52 days after fruit set having slow growth of fruit, the second phase from 52 to 58 days after fruit set having fast growth and the third and last phase from 58 to 60 days after fruit set having slow growth and very little addition in fruit weight.

Intercropping
In the initial years of planting, when a lot of interspace is available in the orchard, appropriate intercrop especially leguminous crops and vegetables can be taken during rainy season.

Varieties
There is no improved variety for commercial cultivation. Common types are;
Desi Jamun and Ra Jamun.

Training and Pruning
Regular pruning in Jamun is not required. However, in later years the dry twigs and crossed branches are removed. While training the plants, the framework of branches is allowed to develop above 60 to 100 cm from the ground level.

Climate
It grows well in tropical and subtropical climate. Jamun requires dry weather at the time of flowering and fruit setting. In subtropical areas, early rain is considered beneficial for ripening of fruits and proper development of fruit size, colour and taste.

Propagation
Jamun is propagated both by seed and vegetative methods. Its seeds show polyembryony up to 30-40. Seedlings are ready for transplanting for use as rootstock in the following spring (February to March) or monsoon i.e. August to September. Budding or grafting is practiced on one year old seedling stocks, having 10 to 14 mm thickness. The best time for budding or grafting is July to August in low rainfall areas.

Planting
Jamun is an evergreen tree and can be planted both in spring i.e. February -March and the monsoon season i.e. July-August. Prior to planting, the field is properly cleared and ploughed. Pits of 1 x 1 x 1 m size are dug at the distance of 10m both ways. Usually, work of digging of pits is completed before the onset of monsoon. The pits are filled with mixture of75% top soil and 25% well rotten farmyard manure or compost.

Fertilizer Application
On very rich soils, trees have a tendency to put on more vegetative growth with the result that fruiting is delayed. When the trees show such a tendency, they should not be supplied with any manure and fertilizer.

Irrigation
Irrigation should be given just after manuring. Young plants require 6-8 irrigations for better growth. In bearing trees, irrigation should be given from September to October for better fruit bud formation and from May to June for better development of fruits. Normally 5-6 irrigations are required.

Insect Pests
1. White Fly (Dialeurodes eugenia)

Affected fruits get wormy appearance on the surface. White fly can be controlledby maintaing sanitary conditions around the tree and digging up the soil around the tree trunk so that the maggots in the affected fruits and pupae hibernating in the soil are destroyed.
2. Leaf Eating Caterpillar (Carea subtillis)

The insect infests the leaves and may defoliate the tree. It can be controlled by spraying Rogor 30 EC or Malathion @ 0.1 per cent.

Harvesting and Yield
The fruit ripens in the month of June -July. The main characteristic of ripe fruit at full size is deep purple or black colour. The fruit should be picked immediately when it ripe, because it can not be retained on the tree in ripe stage. The average yield of fruits from a full grown seedling tree is about 80 to 100 kg per year.

Storage and Marketing
The fruits are highly perishable in nature. They cannot be stored for more than 3 to 4 days under ordinary conditions. However, pre cooled fruits packed in polythene bags can be stored well up to three weeks at low temperatures of 8 to 10°C and 85 to 90% relative humidity. The fruit is packed and sent to the market almost daily. For marketing, well ripe and healthy fruits are selected. Damaged, diseased and unripe fruits are discarded. These selected fruits are then carefully packed in wooden baskets and sent to the local markets. The fruits are highly perishable in nature. They cannot be stored for more than 3 to 4 days under ordinary conditions. However, pre cooled fruits packed in polythene bags can be stored well up to three weeks at low temperatures of 8 to 10°C and 85 to 90% relative humidity. The fruit is packed and sent to the market almost daily. For marketing, well ripe and healthy fruits are selected. Damaged, diseased and unripe fruits are discarded. These selected fruits are then carefully packed in wooden baskets and sent to the local markets.