[Agriculture] Jackfruit for food security during climate change, Mattu Gulla, Vengeri Brijnals

1. Jackfruit =Food security in Climate change
2. Mattu gulla & Vengeri brinjals
   1. States with Highest # of GI tags
   2. Brinjal / Eggplant Factoids:

Jackfruit =Food security in Climate change

Why in news?

• Earlier IPCC and World bank warned that climate change will create food shortage & even subsequent wars.
• Researchers say Jackfruit will be useful alternative to wheat, corn and other staple crops, during such food shortage.
• Hence we need to prepare MCQ worthy information about Jackfruit for the UPSC civil service exam.

• Jackfruit originated from India, Then Spread to South Asian countries
• Jackfruit is a member of mulberry family.
• Largest edible fruit, Also called poor man’s fruit
• Can survive drought, frost, pest, high temperature.
• Jackfruit is a dicot plant.
• Jackfruit is unisexual plant.

• Jackfruit is an example of “multiple fruit”. Other examples: pineapple, mulberry and fig. Because ovary of multiple flowers are fused together & produce the giant fruit.
• One tree of Jackfruit bears 150-250 fruits. Each weighing between 5 to 45 kilos.
• Even seeds can be eaten.
• High calories but no cholesterol or saturated fat
• Rich in potassium, calcium, and iron.
• Mostly Grown in South western states of India, coastal areas, Himalayan foothills.
• Climate requirement: Humid tropical
• Soil: Sandy, stony, laterite soil

Mattu gulla & Vengeri brinjals

• Although not directly ‘food security’ but these two can also aid because they’re resistant to adverse weather and climate.
• Besides, Hindu has been talking about these brinjal varieties every once in a while so they become automatically sacred and important anyways.

• Northern India’s brinjal = violet-pink color, egg shape. They are “badane” variety.

States with Highest # of GI tags

(As of May 2014)

Brinjal / Eggplant Factoids:

Potato, tomato and brinjal are three different species but all belong to the same genus. (NCERT Class11)

• *Fruit comes from Ovaries part and contains seed.
• Synonyms: Brinjal = India ; Eggplant = USA; Aubergine =UK.
• Brinjal is a transplanted vegetable. Seeds grown in nursery, then seedlings translated in main field.
• Low calorie, high potassium
• Kidney patients should avoid too much Brinjal because it contains oxalates. Oxalates can crystalize in body fluids.
• Can grow on all types of soil but prefers loam / clay.
• When brinjal is cut, its white portion becomes brown. Because its phenolic enzyme gets oxidized in presence of air.

Mock Questions

Q1.Find correct statements about jackfruit

1. Jackfruit is native to Indonesia.
2. Jackfruit is an example of Dicot plant
3. Jackfruit is a multiple fruit.
4. Jackfruit is a bisexual flowering species.

Answer choice

1. only 1 and 2
2. only 2 and 3
3. only 1, 2 and 4
4. None.

Q2. Correct statements about Potato, Tomato and Brinjal

1. All three belong to same genus
2. Atleast two of them native to India
3. Atleast two of them are fruits

Correct statements

1. only 1 and 2
2. only 1 and 3
3. only 2 and 3.
4. None

Q3. Which of the following state has highest number of GI registrations?

1. Tamil Nadu
2. Andhra Pradesh
3. Karnataka
4. Uttar Pradesh