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R. Periyathambi
J
amun is a tall handsome evergreen
tree grown in tropical and subtropical
regions. It is one of the hardiest fruit
tree and best suited for wastelands.
It is drought tolerant, at the same time can
tolerate water stagnation as well as marshy
wetlands. The wood is used as a timber in
building and railway sleeper.
The nutrients contents out of 100 gm
of fresh fruits are 19.7 g carbohydrate, 0.7
g protein, 0.1 g fat, 1.0 g iron, 0.02 g
calcium, 0.01 g phosphorus and 0.9 g
fibre. Besides taken as a dessert fruit, it is
also used for making value added products
like beverages, squash, jam, jelly and wine.
Botanical description
Jamun botanically called as Syzygium
cumini L. (Syn: Eugenia jambolana,
Syzygium jambolanum) belong to the family
Myrtaceae. The tree is originated from
Indonesia and India; now grows
abundantly in Southern Asia. It is an
evergreen tropical tree having 8 to 15 m
tall, with oblong opposite leaves that are
smooth, glossy and having a turpentine
smell. The bark is scaly gray and the trunk
is forks or multiple stem, has fragrant white
flowers in branched clusters at stem tips
and purplish-black oval edible berries. This
J
The Potential Untapped
amun
berry has only one seed. The juicy fruit-
pulp contains resin, gallic acid and tannin.
The taste is usually acid to fairly sweet and
somewhat astringent, jamun fruit mainly
used for its medicinal properties.
Vernacular names
English - Jamun, Java plum and
Indian blackberry.
Hindi - Jambu
Malayalam - Njaval
Sanskrit - Jambuh
Tamil - Naval
Curative properties
In traditional medicine, it is extensively
J amun is a tall
handsome evergreen
tree grown in tropical
and subtropical regions.
It is one of the hardiest
fruit tree and best suited
for wastelands.
It is drought tolerant,
at the same time can
tolerate water stagnation as
well as marshy wetlands.
The wood is used as
a timber in building
and railway sleeper.
30 HORTICULTURE
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used against diabetes and apart from that it
is also administered against various ailments
like carminative, febrifuge, antibacterial,
stomachic, diuretic, diarrhea and vomiting.
Stems, leaves and fruits contain essential
oil having alpha and beta pinnene,
limonene and bornyl acetate as major
constituents. Fruits contain the
anthocyanins, delphinidin-3-
gentiobioside, jambocine, malvidin-3-
laminaribioside and petunidin-3-
gentiobioside. Fruits yielded citric, malic
and Gallic acids. Seeds contain -Sitosterol.
Bark having astringent properties. Bark and
seed kernel hypoglycemic, fruit- stomachic,
carminative, diuretic, bark and leaves have
anti diarrhoeal properties.
Classical uses of Jamun
Leaf juice mixed with mustard oil is
effective in burn wounds.
Leaves have antibacterial properties and
used for strengthening the teeth.
Tender leaves are used against vomiting.
Dried and powdered jamun seeds mixed
with mango seed powder and jaggery
taken thrice daily for diarrhoea.
A cold decoction of the tender leaves of
jamun and mango mixed with honey
taken twice daily and gives relief against
vomiting and burning sensation of
stomach.
The fine powder of the bark sprinkled
on fresh wounds enables quick healing
and arrests bleeding.
Fruit is a very powerful digestive agent.
Taking a decoction of bark powder with
honey arrests the bleeding.
Diluted juice of fruits is diuretic and
prevents enlargement of spleen.
Seed powder of jamun is used as good
anti diabetic medicine.
Fruit syrup is used in curing diarrhea
The juice of Jamun fruit or its vinegar
was given in sluggish digestion.
The bark of Jamun is an ingredient in a
classical compound Ushiraasava and it
is prescribed for heamatemesis, epistaxis,
bleeding through rectum and urinary
passage.
The seed is an ingredient in
Pushyaanuga Churna, indicated in
leucorrhoea and other uterine disorders.
In Unani system of medicine, Jamun
seeds are the main ingredients in all
diabetics medicine.
In Unani medicine, the seed of Jamun,
kernel of mango and flowers of Acacia
are prescribed for diarrhea and
resulting in better soil moisture will help in
growth and development and ripening of
fruits. Young plants are susceptible to frost.
It can be grown on a wide range soils like;
calcareous, saline sodic soils and marshy
areas. But, deep loam and well drained soils
are preferred by the plant.
Varieties/Cultivars
There are only few improved cultivars
available so far. The most common type
grown in North India is known as
Rajamun. This is large fruited type having
oblong fruits of deep purple colour. A type
having large sized fruits is known as Paras
in Gujarat. Another Seedless Jamun type
found in Varanasi has no seed. A selection
and stomach problems.
Uses of Jamun in Indian System of
Medicine
Charaka prescribed seeds, leaves
decoctions for diarrhea, vomiting and
constipation.
Sushruta prescribed the fruit
internally in obesity, menstrual disorders
and cold infusion in intrinsic
heamorrhage.
The juice of Jamun, Mango and
Amla leaves mixed with goats milk or
honey was prescribed for diarrhea with
blood.
dysentery.
In folk medicine, the ash of dried bark
of Jamun is given a dose of 1.25 g with
honey on empty stomach or one hour
before lunch and dinner for 40 days to
diabetic patients.
Cultivation
Since Jamun is hardy fruit crop, it can
be grown under adverse soil and climatic
conditions. Even during dry weather also
gives flowering and fruiting. It thrives well
under both tropical and sub tropical
regions. It requires dry weather at the time
of flowering and fruit setting. Early rains

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known as Narendra jamun-6 has been identified with desirable traits at Faizabad
(U.P).
Propagation
Jamun is propagated both by seeds and vegetative techniques, the most common
being by seeds. The seeds have no dormancy, hence fresh seeds can be sown (with
in 10-15 days) 4-5 cm deep at a distance of 25 cm 15 cm.
The seeds germinate 10 -15 days after sowing. The seedlings become ready for
transplanting in spring or next monsoon. Its seeds show polyembrony upto 30-
40%, hence nucellar/apomictic seedlings can be used to produce true- to- type
plants.
Seedlings plants bear fruits of variable size and quality. There fore, vegetative
method is desirable for propagation of improved or selected types. Budding is most
successful for commercial rising of plants. It is done on one-year-old rootstock
having about 10 mm thickness. Patch and Forkert methods give more than 80%
success if performed in March in low rainfall area; July- August is ideal time for
budding.
Planting
Pits of 1m1m1m size are dug 10m apart for seedlings trees and 7-8m apart
for budded plants in a properly cleaned field. Pit digging should be completed
before the onset of monsoon or spring season. They should be filled with mixture
of top soil and well rotten farm yard manure or compost in a 3:1 ratio. Monsoon
season July to September is suitable season for planting. About 100 -150 plants are
required for planting a hectare land.
Training and pruning
Young plants need training for the development of frame work. Keep the main
stem or trunk clean up to a height of 90cm from the ground level by removing the
basal branches and sprouts. Jamun do not require any pruning except removing
diseased, dry and crisscross twigs.
Manures and fertilization
In pre bearing period, apply 20-25 kg Farm Yard Manure or compost/plant/
year. For bearing trees, this dose increased upto 50-60 kg plant/year. The ideal time
for giving organic manure is a month before flowering. For well grown and bearing
trees; 500g Nitrogen, 600g Phosphorous and 300g Potassium applied plant/year.
This should be applied in a ring pit made around the tree canopy of the plant and
mixed in soil by hoeing.
Irrigation
During early stages of establishment, the plants must be watered periodically
for better growth. The full grown and bearing trees, irrigation should be given once
in 12-15 days. Care and periodically watering must be given during summer
months. It will help for bud formation, fruit set as well as prevents fruit drop.
Aftercare
During early stages of crop growth an inter crop like cowpea, green gram can be
grown upto 5-6 years, intercropping with seasonal vegetables also advisable. Jamun
is a cross pollinated fruit crop hence keeping honey-bee boxes 4-5 / acre is desirable
for maximum fruit set and high yield.
Harvest and yield
The trees will start yielding from 8-10 years after planting in case of seedlings;
whereas, the budded plants will take only 5-6 years. Fruits ripen during June-July
or with the onset of rainy season. The fully matured and ripe fruits harvested gently
from the branches without causing injury to the fruit skin.
The average yield of full grown budded and seedling trees are about 50-70 and
80-100 kg/tree/year. Jamun fruits are highly perishable so, it must be utilized
within two days from the harvest.
The writer is associated with Mitraniketan Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Vellanad- 695 543,
Thiruvananthapuram. e-mail: rpherbals@yahoo.com