Research directed by C. Daehler (UH Botany) with funding from the Kaulunani Urban Forestry Program and US Forest Service

Information on Risk Assessments
Original risk assessment

Artocarpus altilis (breadfruit)

Answer

1.01

Is the species highly domesticated?

y=-3, n=0

y

1.02

Has the species become naturalized where grown?

y=-1, n=-1

n

1.03

Does the species have weedy races?

y=-1, n=-1

n

2.01

Species suited to tropical or subtropical climate(s) (0-low; 1-intermediate; 2-high) – If island is primarily wet habitat, then substitute “wet tropical” for “tropical or subtropical”

See Append 2

2

2.02

Quality of climate match data (0-low; 1-intermediate; 2-high) see appendix 2

2

2.03

Broad climate suitability (environmental versatility)

y=1, n=0

n

2.04

Native or naturalized in regions with tropical or subtropical climates

y=1, n=0

y

2.05

Does the species have a history of repeated introductions outside its natural range? y=-2

?=-1, n=0

y

3.01

Naturalized beyond native range y = 1*multiplier (see Append 2), n= question 2.05

n

3.02

Garden/amenity/disturbance weed y = 1*multiplier (see Append 2)

n=0

n

3.03

Agricultural/forestry/horticultural weed y = 2*multiplier (see Append 2)

n=0

n

3.04

Environmental weed y = 2*multiplier (see Append 2)

n=0

n

3.05

Congeneric weed y = 1*multiplier (see Append 2)

n=0

n

4.01

Produces spines, thorns or burrs

y=1, n=0

n

4.02

Allelopathic

y=1, n=0

n

4.03

Parasitic

y=1, n=0

n

4.04

Unpalatable to grazing animals

y=1, n=-1

n

4.05

Toxic to animals

y=1, n=0

n

4.06

Host for recognized pests and pathogens

y=1, n=0

n

4.07

Causes allergies or is otherwise toxic to humans

y=1, n=0

n

4.08

Creates a fire hazard in natural ecosystems

y=1, n=0

4.09

Is a shade tolerant plant at some stage of its life cycle

y=1, n=0

y

4.1

Tolerates a wide range of soil conditions (or limestone conditions if not a volcanic island)

y=1, n=0

y

4.11

Climbing or smothering growth habit

y=1, n=0

n

4.12

Forms dense thickets

y=1, n=0

n

5.01

Aquatic

y=5, n=0

n

5.02

Grass

y=1, n=0

n

5.03

Nitrogen fixing woody plant

y=1, n=0

n

5.04

Geophyte (herbaceous with underground storage organs -- bulbs, corms, or tubers)

y=1, n=0

n

6.01

Evidence of substantial reproductive failure in native habitat

y=1, n=0

n

6.02

Produces viable seed.

y=1, n=-1

y

6.03

Hybridizes naturally

y=1, n=-1

6.04

Self-compatible or apomictic

y=1, n=-1

n

6.05

Requires specialist pollinators

y=-1, n=0

n

6.06

Reproduction by vegetative fragmentation

y=1, n=-1

6.07

Minimum generative time (years) 1 year = 1, 2 or 3 years = 0, 4+ years = -1

See left

4

7.01

Propagules likely to be dispersed unintentionally (plants growing in heavily trafficked areas)

y=1, n=-1

n

7.02

Propagules dispersed intentionally by people

y=1, n=-1

y

7.03

Propagules likely to disperse as a produce contaminant

y=1, n=-1

n

7.04

Propagules adapted to wind dispersal

y=1, n=-1

n

7.05

Propagules water dispersed

y=1, n=-1

n

7.06

Propagules bird dispersed

y=1, n=-1

n

7.07

Propagules dispersed by other animals (externally)

y=1, n=-1

7.08

Propagules survive passage through the gut

y=1, n=-1

8.01

Prolific seed production (>1000/m2)

y=1, n=-1

n

8.02

Evidence that a persistent propagule bank is formed (>1 yr)

y=1, n=-1

n

8.03

Well controlled by herbicides

y=-1, n=1

8.04

Tolerates, or benefits from, mutilation, cultivation, or fire

y=1, n=-1

8.05

Effective natural enemies present locally (e.g. introduced biocontrol agents)

y=-1, n=1

Total score:

-12

Source

Notes

1.01

(1)It is said to have been widely spread in the Pacific area by migrating Polynesians, and Hawaiians believed that it was brought from the Samoan island of Upalu to Oahu in the 12th Century A.D. (2)breadfruit has been cultivated since prehistoric times and the original distribution is obscure. [parthenogenic varieties are most common and are certainly domesticated]

(1)http://newcrop.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/morton/breadfruit.html (2)http://instruct1.cit.cornell.edu/courses/hort400/mpts/artoatil.html

1.02

(1) 'Widely cultivated around homes almost throughout Puerto Rico and occassionally escaping.' 'Grown throughout the tropics the seeded variety sometimes escaping from cultivation.' - did not find any further evidence of the species being naturalized in regions where it has been introduced. (2) Artocarpus altilis is a polynesian introduction in Hawaii that has not become naturalized.

(1) Little, E.L. and Wadsworth, F. H. 1964. Common trees of Peurto Rico and the Virgin Islands. USDA Agriculture handbook # 249. Washington D.C. (2) Wagner,W. L., D. R. Herbst & S. H. Sohmer. 1990. Manual of flowering plants of Hawaii.University of Hawaii at Press. Honolulu.

1.03

No evidence

2.01

(1)Native to Malay peninsula. (2)The species is native to the Pacific and tropical Asia and is now widely planted throughout the humid tropics

(1)Horticopia Trees, shrubs and groundcover. CD-ROM database. (2)CAB International, 2000. Forestry Compendium Global Module. Wallingford, UK: CAB International.

2.02

2.03

(1) 'A. altilis can be grown under a range of ecological conditions…' Approximate limits north to south: 20°N to 20°S. Altitude range: 0 - 1500 m(??). (2)NARROW RANGE: The breadfruit is ultra-tropical, much tenderer than the mango tree. It has been reported that it requires a temperature range of 60° to 100°F (15.56°-37.78°C), an annual rainfall of 80 to 100 in (203-254 cm), and a relative humidity of 70 to 80%.; In Central America, it is grown only below 2,000 ft (600 m).

(1)CAB International, 2000. Forestry Compendium Global Module. Wallingford, UK: CAB International. (2)http://kosina.tripod.com/ovoce/Morton/Breadfruit.htm

2.04

(1)Native to Malay peninsula. (2)The species is native to the Pacific and tropical Asia and is now widely planted throughout the humid tropics

(1)Horticopia Trees, shrubs and groundcover. CD-ROM database. (2)CAB International, 2000. Forestry Compendium Global Module. Wallingford, UK: CAB International.

2.05

Introduced widely throughout the world.

CAB International, 2000. Forestry Compendium Global Module. Wallingford, UK: CAB International.

3.01

No evidence of the species being naturalized except: 'Widely cultivated around homes almost throughout Puerto Rico and occassionally escaping.' 'Grown throughout the tropics the seeded variety sometimes escaping from cultivation.' - did not find any further evidence of the species being naturalized in regions where it has been introduced.

Little, E.L. and Wadsworth, F. H. 1964. Common trees of Peurto Rico and the Virgin Islands. USDA Agriculture handbook # 249. Washington D.C.

3.02

No evidence

3.03

No evidence, not given a designation in Holme et al. Geographic Atlas of World Weeds.

3.04

No evidence

3.05

No evidence

4.01

No evidence

CAB International, 2000. Forestry Compendium Global Module. Wallingford, UK: CAB International.

4.02

No evidence

4.03

No evidence

4.04

Breadfruit leaves are eagerly eaten by domestic livestock. In India, they are fed to cattle and goats; in Guam, to cattle, horses and pigs. Horses are apt to eat the bark of young trees as well, so new plantings must be protected from them.

http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/morton/breadfruit.html#Description

4.05

No evidence

4.06

Pests recorded
Insect pests:
Rastrococcus invadens [1]
Fungus diseases:
Phellinus noxius [2]
Phytophthora palmivora [3]
Phytophthora
Rhizopus artocarpi [4]
Uredo artocarpi [5]

(1)CAB International, 2000. Forestry Compendium Global Module. Wallingford, UK: CAB International. (2)http://nt.ars-grin.gov/fungaldatabases/all/FindRecOneFungusFrame.cfm

4.07

'Most varieties of breadfruit are purgative if eaten raw. Some varieties are boiled twice and the water thrown away, to avoid unpleasant effects, while there are a few named cultivars that can be safely eaten without cooking.' [Did not find any evidence of allergy or poisoning from breadfruit.]

(1)http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/morton/breadfruit.html#Description

4.08

No information regarding fire ecology.

4.09

(1)Young plants do best in partial shade. (2)prefers partial shade or partial sun to full sun; soil should be moist

(1)http://instruct1.cit.cornell.edu/courses/hort400/mpts/artoatil.html (2)http://www.hortpix.com/pc552.htm

4.1

(1)Clay, sandy and loam. (2)According to many reports, the breadfruit tree must have deep, fertile, well-drained soil. But some of the best authorities on South Pacific plants point out that the seedless breadfruit does well on sandy coral soils, and seeded types grow naturally on "coraline limestone" islands in Micronesia.

(1)Horticopia Trees, shrubs and groundcover. CD-ROM database. (2)http://kosina.tripod.com/ovoce/Morton/Breadfruit.htm

4.11

No evidence - not a vine.

4.12

No evidence

5.01

It is an evergreen or semi-deciduous fast growing tree, up to 25-30 m tall.

http://www.ecoport.org/EP.exe$EntPage?ID=3423

5.02

5.03

5.04

6.01

6.02

Seeds germinate about 2 weeks after sowing.

http://www.ecoport.org/EP.exe$EntPage?ID=3423

6.03

No information regarding hybridization.

6.04

(1)It is monoecious. (2) 'Although pollination is not required for fruit set of breadfruit, it stimulates parthenocarpy, resulting in larger fruits.' (3) The findings indicated that parthenocarpic development occurred without being stimulated by pollination. It would appear that endogenous auxin necessary for the growth of pericarp tissue was synthesized by the unfertilized ovules, which subsequently developed into black rudimentary seeds.

(1)http://www.ecoport.org/EP.exe$EntPage?ID=3423 (2)http://instruct1.cit.cornell.edu/courses/hort400/mpts/artoatil.html (3)Hasan, S. M. Z.; Razak, A. R.1992, Parthenocarpy in seedless breadfruit (Arthocarpus incircus , (Thumb.) L.). Acta Horticulturae, No.321, pp.648-652,

6.05

(1)Pollination is largely by wind. Male and female flowers are separate but on the same tree. (2)The absence of visitors and the morphological impossibility of nectar secretion on pistillate inflorescences make entomophily improbable and anemophily seem probable...' (3) 'The pollination mechanisms of breadfruit are not fully understood, with questions as to whether this is mediated by wind or insects.'

(1)http://www.ecoport.org/EP.exe$EntPage?ID=3423 (2)Brantjes, N.B.M. 1981. Nectar and the pollination of bread fruit Artocarpus Aatilis (Moraceae). Acta Botanica Neerlandica. 30 (5/6): 345 - 352. (3) Ragone, D. 1997. Breadfruit. National Tropical Botanical Garden. Kauai, Hawaii. U.S.A.

6.06

(1) 'Root suckers (shoots arising from intact roots) which occur spontaneously can be dug and transplanted to a new location as a means of clonal propagation.' (2)suckers spring up naturally from the roots. [BUT not known vegetative fragmentation is a natural mode of reproduction]

(1)http://instruct1.cit.cornell.edu/courses/hort400/mpts/artalprp.html (2)http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/morton/breadfruit.html

6.07

The seedlings tend to grow slowly, but they respond well to better growing conditions and may start flowering in 4-10 years. Asexually propagated seedless forms start flowering after 3-4 years.

http://www.ecoport.org/EP.exe$EntPage?ID=3423

7.01

Propagules are large and do not have any means of attachment - hence less likely to be introduced unintentionally.

7.02

'A. altilis is also an important garden ornamental tree…' Its fruits are eaten and the enitre tree has several medicinal and cultural uses. Hence it is very likely to be intentionally introduced.

CAB International, 2000. Forestry Compendium Global Module. Wallingford, UK: CAB International.

7.03

7.04

fruit bat is known to be an important disperser

http://www.mhhe.com/biosci/pae/botany/botany_map/articles/article_21.html

7.05

fruit bat is known to be an important disperser

7.06

fruit bat is known to be an important disperser

7.07

'The pollination syndrome is still being investigated, but the Old World fruit bat is known to be an important disperser. (The Old World fruit bats, called "frugavores," are in the family Pteropodidae and the order Chiroptera.)' Don’t know whether the seeds of the breadfruit pass through the gut of the fruit bats.

http://www.mhhe.com/biosci/pae/botany/botany_map/articles/article_21.html

7.08

Don’t know wheather the seeds of the breadfruit pass through the gut of the fruit bats.

8.01

(1)Most cultivated breadfruits are seedless, seeded ones are known as breadnuts. Breadnuts bear fleshy prickles, the edible pulp is largely replaced by the seeds, which are irregularly oval, rounded at one end, pointed at the other, about 2-2.5 cm long, dull-brown with darker stripes. In the seeded form there is little pulp and each fruit contains 20-60 edible seeds.
(2)in Trinidad, the average number of seeds/fruit, harvested from a single 6-year-old tree over a period of 7 months, was 59.

(1)http://www.ecoport.org/EP.exe$EntPage?ID=3423 (2)Bennett, F. D.; Nozzolillo, C. 1987, How many seeds in a seeded breadfruit, Artocarpus altilis (Moraceae)? Economic Botany, Vol.41, No.3, pp.370-374

8.02

(1) 'Like the seeds of many tropical species, those of breadnut are recalcitrant (do not store well) and, consequently, must be planted fresh.' (2)seedsmust be planted when fairly fresh as they lose viability in a few weeks.

(1)http://instruct1.cit.cornell.edu/courses/hort400/mpts/artalprp.html (2)http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/morton/breadfruit.html

8.03

No evidence that the species is being controlled for.

8.04

No information.

8.05

Don’t know.