Morinda Citrifolia Linn. Ó an Important Fruit Tree of Andaman and Nicobar

Natural Product Radiance, Vol. 6(1), 2007, pp.62-65 Green page: Article

Morinda citrifolia Linn. ó An important fruit tree of Andaman and Nicobar Islands D R Singh* and R B Rai Division of Horticulture and Forestry Central Agricultural Research Institute, Port Blair-744 101, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, India *Correspondent author, E-mail: [email protected] Received 10 August 2005; Accepted 19 October 2006 Abstract in almost all parts of the islands, as it Morinda citrifolia Linn. is a hardy plant which can grow on wasteland and tolerate grows in dry to wet and at sea level of salinity. Its fruit is used in traditional medicine and contain many vitamins and minerals. In this about 450 m elevation. It can be found paper an attempt has been made to provide its cultivation aspects and economic value. near the coast, in gulches and in Keywords : Noni, Indian Mulberry, Morinda citrifolia, Nutrient composition, Cultivation. undisturbed forests of the dryer areas, particularly along with the Kewra 8 IPC code; Int. cl. — A01G 17/00, A23L 1/00, A61K 36/00 (Pandanus) trees. It grows in wide variety Introduction market value and tolerance to salinity. of soils and environment and has the After the Tsunami disaster, the affected ability to regenerate from shoots or root Morinda citrifolia Linn. suckers rather than seed producing (Family — Rubiaceae) also called Indian lands with seawater which had been left as wastelands have been occupied by the thickets or groves. It can be propagated Mulberry is commercially known as Noni. from seeds, stem or root cuttings5. The It is known as Lorang, Burma phal, plants of Indian mulberry4. It is a small semi spreading evergreen plant bears specialized seeds which possess Pongee phal and Suraogi by the tribals a woody watertight airsac that enables 1 tree or shrub with a medium foliage density of Andaman and Nicobar Islands . them to float between closely spaced that grows to about 3-10m in height at Indigenous to Southeast Asia, the plant was islands6. Seed dormancy is the main maturity. The prolific noni tree bears fruit domesticated and cultivated by problem that restrict its commercial year around; the plant sometimes Polynesians, first in Tahiti and the cultivation7,8. Pre sowing chemical supports itself on other plants as a liana. Marquesas, and eventually in the Hawaiian treatments9 have generally been used to The fruits are generally greenish yellow Islands. Today, it grows in most regions enhance seed germination and to increase and fleshy but vary in size, morphology, of the South Pacific, India, the Caribbean, seedling vigour10. The preferred methods palatability, odour (foetid when ripe) and South America and the West Indies. Noni’s of propagation are by seeds and by cuttings number of seeds/fruit (150-200). Seeds broad proliferation gives testimony to its made from stem verticals3. Noni has value to traditional cultures. Historically, are brown in colour and can retain emerged as one of the hot favourites of it was known as the queen of all canoe viability for months if left in water. The the farmers for cultivation under saline plants2,3. In Andaman and Nicobar Islands, rooting is extensive lateral root system and soil in Andaman and Nicobar Islands. This it is widely found through out the coastal a deep tap root. The yellowish wood and plant has been tested recently in research region and along the fences and the turmeric yellow coloured root (used as farm as well as salt affected land caused roadside. Due to its adaptability to wide yellow dye) are the main distinguishing due to tsunami and found to be highly range of climatic conditions, the noni characteristics of the species M. citrifolia. adaptive to the available agro niches of plant grows even in infertile, acidic and the Bay islands. After the identification alkaline soils and in the dry and wet areas. Cultivation and evaluation of this high price fruit plant The tropical humid climate is very much Cultivation of morinda has in these particular areas farmers from all suitable for the cultivation of this plant recently undergone revival in Andaman and area of South Andaman and Nicobar group which is gaining popularity among the Nicobar Islands owing to its high medicinal of Islands are eager to grow this plant in farmers and other people due to its good and market value. Morinda is naturalized salt affected marshy land.

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For propagation from seeds soft, fertilizer burn is uncommon under normal planting. Rooted cuttings give yield ripened morinda fruits are chosen and conditions. Cultivation of morinda plants 5 months after planting in pots and 6-7 seeds are separated from the fibrous, from vertical and lateral stem cuttings months in field, and seedlings produce clinging fruits. The fruits are opened by lessens the time taken to obtain plants fruits 9 months after planting; however hand, split into pieces and then separate that are ready for transplanting. While in first two years flowering should be the seeds from the flesh using a strong cutting the plant for propagation the fresh discouraged in order to strengthen the spray of water or strainer. Sometimes sap will flow from the cut ends, if the sap plant. The farmers are given instruction rubbing the fruit fragments on the screen flows readily, cuttings can be taken from to prune the branches, which could result by hand or with a blunt object can help these plants, but if sap does not flow in vertical and lateral branches, and force the fruit flesh through the screen. readily or there is no sap to ooze then the greater fruit yield. Fruits should be Scarifying the hard seed coat by scratching cut materials must be discarded. Usually harvested 3 years after planting at any stage or puncturing reduces the germination flowing sap signifies that it is actively of development depending on the time, improves the germination growing plant with high energy. The proposed processing method. They can be percentage and promotes uniform cuttings are planted in the pot containing harvested when they change their colour sprouting. The seeds can be dried and fresh growth medium and if required root from green to yellowish green. At this stage stored but viability time is to be observed. hormones may be applied for proper fruits are suitable for boarding in ships. After cleaning, spread the seeds on a clean vegetative growth. The cuttings planted in Mostly producers prefer green fruits, newspaper and dry in shade or indoors the pots are watered well until rooting where as, the processors prefer mature 3 for 3-4 days. Store the seeds in airtight and kept under partial shade . An yellowish green fruit for processing. For container at room temperature. expedient way to propagate noni is simply self use or local purpose fruits can be Morinda seeds can be planted to breakup a ripe fruit and spread the pulp harvested when ripe so that the juice can immediately after extraction from the with its seeds over the surface of planting be extracted easily. Noni fruits do not fruit. The seeds require hot, wet condition medium in a bed. bruise or damage easily hence need not for maximum percentage of germination. As the morinda plants are quite be refrigerated. Fruits can be harvested If germinated out side, partial sun is susceptible to root knot nematode the site year round basis even though there is a preferable to full sun in case of drying of selection should not be done in those seasonal trend according to the places. the medium. Morinda seeds can be places, where other agricultural crops have Their production is less during monsoon germinated in seedling beds or trays or been planted recently. Heavy and compact months in Andaman and Nicobar Islands. sown directly in containers with light soil should be avoided. It does not grow The expected yield from healthy and medium that can retain water and remains well where winds are strong. The proper matured plant is 50kg/plant/year (Five year aerated. Seedlings with deep, well- spacing for morinda plants is 3-4.5m; old plant) depending on nutrition, established taproots tend to withstand closer spacing usually results in over management and spacing. But according better transplanting and establish much crowding and interferes with the plant to the estimation done, the expected yield quicker. Seeds are germinated in flat growth. Plants may be pruned after their from the fully-grown mature fruiting tree containers and transplanted into growing first production of fruit. The fertilizer and is about 116-232 kg/plant/year with containers within a few weeks of nutrient application depends on the proper crop management. In some places, germination. climatic conditions such as rainfall and yield even increased more then 232kg/ If noni plants are transplanted type of soil. Plants need moderate plant/year. too young then they may be susceptible to irrigation but once they are established Noni fruits are best harvested weed competition, mechanical damage fully they can even withstand drought. Over and slug attack. Seedlings and young plants watering can result in root knot nematode for seed collection after it falls naturally grown from cuttings can be given fertilizer and root rot11. from the tree when flesh is very soft. Fruit with any green colour should be once in a month. Young plants respond Harvesting and yield avoided because the seeds may not be well to applications of dilute, liquid Fruit bearing starts from about foliar fertilizers. Morinda is salt tolerant and 9 months and continues up to 1 year after fully developed and may not germinate. Fruit

Vol 6(1) January-February 2007 63 Green page: Article picked from the ground can be processed Physicochemical characteristics and immediately for planting. Whereas, fruit nutrient composition of fruits picked from the tree is still hard and must The fruit is 9.8 × 5.26 cm be allowed to ripen fully before processing and weighs about 147.9g, with specific for seed. A farmer can expect to harvest gravity (wt/volume) 30.13. The recovery approximately 7.5 tonnes /acre which is of the juice was recorded 38.95%, comparable to any other fruit crop. pulp 44.76-46.72% and seed 3.24-4.31%. The TSS (°Brix) 8.40 and acidity Utilization and Chemical 0.14%. The ascorbic acid (mg/100g) Composition content of the fruit is 139.09 mg/100g at The tree has attained significant ripe stage. The macro and micronutrient economic importance world wide in Morinda citrifolia seeds recent years through a variety of health analysis of leaf, mature and ripe fruit was and cosmetic products made from leaves done in our laboratory. The studies and fruits. Nicobari tribes of these Islands nutrients that positively affect our bodies showed that leaf and fruit contain: are known to consume this fruit raw with in many profound ways12. It rejuvenates calcium, 0.55, 0.0004; potassium, 0.12, 0.12; and magnesium, 0.06, 0.01%; and salt or cooked as vegetable4. Noni has the body, revitalizes the cells, relieves pain, been used as a healing and medicinal plant for over 2,000 years by ancient cultures. Its healing and restorative powers to the human body are legendary. It is akin to gold in the South Pacific and is quickly gaining the same reputations in countries all over the world. Noni contains over 160 powerful vitamins, minerals and other

Noni fruits Morinda citrifolia potted plants

reduces inflammation, releases stress, the micronutrients i.e. manganese, 4.47, purifies blood, stimulates immune system, 1.557; copper, 2.23, 11.893; and iron, -, improves digestion, enhances well being, 10.66 ppm, respectively. regular cell formation, helps in recovery from AIDS, maintains healthy skin, hair Conclusion and scalp, protects from toxins and Considering the positive pollutants, reduces the risk of developing discoveries made with noni fruit so cancer, improves memory and far, there is sufficient reason to anticipate concentration, inhibits tumour growth, that further studies will prove the reduces the chances of premature onset fruit and its preparations beneficial to of age related diseases such as arthritis, health in numerous ways. It is a heart diseases, diabetes or strokes, valuable medicinal plant and is likely to protects against vitral and bacterial strains become an increasingly sought-after that have become antibiotic resistant, and dietary supplement. Morinda citrifolia plant laden with fruits aids in digestion13.

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Yet we have a great deal more to learn 2. Francis JK, Noni, Morinda citrifolia L. 9. Nelson Scot C, Morinda citrifolia. Species about what the plant contains and how it Rubiaceae, http://www.fs.fed.us/global/iitf/ profiles for Pacific Island Agroforestry, pdf/shrubs/morinda%20citrifolia.pdf. Version 1.2, http://agroforestry.net/tti/ works. Further, phytochemical Morinda(noni).pdf. investigations will likely lead to the 3. Morton J, The ocean-going noni, or Indian discovery of other compounds. Biological Mulberry (Morinda citrifolia, Rubiaceae) 10. Hsiao IA, The effect of sodium hypochlorite activity studies will provide better and some of its “colorful” relatives, Econ and gibberelic acid on seed dormancy and Bot, 1992, 46, 241-256. germination of wild oats (Avena fatua), information about how these agents work Can J Bot, 1979, 57, 1729-1739. in living organisms. At some point human 4. Singh DR, Rai RB and Singh B, The Great clinical studies will shed light on the Morinda – A potential underutilized fruits in 11. Nelson Scot C, Noni cultivation in Hawaii, specific activities of noni in the body. Bay Islands, The Daily Telegrams, Port CTAHR, Fruits and Nuts, March 2001, The farmers of the coastal regions Blair, 2005, April 24, p. 2. F&N-4. may be advised to take up this plant to 5. Hartman HT, Kester DE, Davies IT and Genere 12. Duncan R Lindsay, Benefits, History and grow on large scale on farm land and on RL, Plant propagation: Principles and Tradition of Noni Juice (Morinda the tsunami affected land. It may play a Practices, Seventh Practice Hall Inc. USA, 2002, citrifolia), http://www.noni-juice- vital role in giving boost to the economy 362p. distributer.us/noni-juice-history.shtml. and utilization of this underutilized fruit 6. Wagner WL, Herbst DH and Sohmer SH, Manual 13. McClatchey Will, From Polynesian Healers to tree in India. of Flowering plants of Hawaii (Revised Edn), Health Food stores: Changing Perspectives of University of Hawaii Press, Honolulu, 1999. Morinda citrifolia (Rubiaceae), Integr References Cancer Ther, 2002, 1(2), 110-120. 7. Cambie RC and Ash J, Fijian Meidcinal 1. Singh DR, Rai RB, Medhi RP and Singh B, Plants, 1994, CSIRO, Australia. The Great Morinda – A potential underutilized fruit for Tsunami affected areas in Bay Islands, UTS’s Voice, Port Blair, 2005, April 16-30, 8. Ponnaiyan P and Vezhavendan S, Growth p. 21. regulators and nicking on germination, Int J Noni Res, 2005, 1(1), 37.

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