Skip to main content
ARS Home » Southeast Area » Mayaguez, Puerto Rico » Tropical Crops and Germplasm Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #433771
Research Project: Conservation and Utilization of Tropical and Subtropical Fruit, Cacao, Coffee, and Bamboo Germplasm and Associated Descriptive Information

Location: Tropical Crops and Germplasm Research

Title: Yield performance of eight breadfruit (Artocarpus altilis) genotypes grafted onto a common rootstock and grown at two locations in Puerto Rico

Author
item Goenaga, Ricardo
item Marrero Soto, Angel
item Rodriguez-Rivera, Jose
item Perez, Delvis

Submitted to: HortScience
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/21/2026
Publication Date: 6/2/2026
Citation: Goenaga, R.J., Marrero Soto, A.R., Rodriguez-Rivera, J.L., Perez, D.O. 2026. Yield performance of eight breadfruit (Artocarpus altilis) genotypes grafted onto a common rootstock and grown at two locations in Puerto Rico. HortScience. 61(7), 1444-1450. https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI19441-26.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI19441-26

Interpretive Summary: Breadfruit (Artocarpus altilis) is an important traditional staple crop in tropical regions and is increasingly recognized for its potential to strengthen climate-resilient food systems. However, despite its value, breadfruit is largely absent from global production statistics, and very few formal evaluations exist comparing the performance of different breadfruit genotypes. Farmers, researchers, and industry stakeholders lack reliable information on which genotypes produce the highest yields under different growing conditions. This long-term field study evaluated eight breadfruit genotypes grown as pruned trees at two contrasting sites in Puerto Rico over seven years of production. The research identified clear differences in yield among genotypes and locations. The Corozal site produced consistently higher yields, and the genotype ‘Ma‘Afala’ was the top performer at both locations. Several other genotypes, including ‘G. Wilder Brash’, ‘Huero’, and ‘Mei Kakano’, also demonstrated strong yield potential. Fruit size remained stable across sites and years, and some genotypes showed higher leaf nutrient concentrations even when grafted onto the same rootstock. These findings provide the first multi-year, side-by-side comparison of breadfruit genotypes worldwide, offering growers and agricultural planners reliable data for selecting high-yielding cultivars. Identifying superior genotypes, particularly those that perform well under different soil types, supports the expansion of breadfruit as a climate-resilient crop capable of generating high gross income with minimal inputs. This research strengthens the scientific foundation needed to guide cultivar selection, improve food security, and promote wider adoption of breadfruit in tropical agricultural systems.

Technical Abstract: Breadfruit (Artocarpus altilis) is a traditional staple crop in tropical regions and is gaining renewed interest for its role in climate resilient food systems. Although widely grown, it remains underreported in global production statistics, and formal evaluations of genotype performance are limited. This field study evaluated eight breadfruit genotypes (Ma‘Afala, Mei Maoi, Mei Kakano, Mei Puou, G. Wilder Brash, Huero, Apuapua, and TARS 6732), maintained as pruned (topped) trees, for yield and fruit traits over seven years of production at two sites in Puerto Rico: Corozal (Ultisol) and Isabela (Oxisol). Corozal consistently produced higher yields, with 33% more fruit and an average of 11,323' kg.ha-1 compared with 9,634' kg.ha-1 at Isabela. At Corozal, ‘Ma‘Afala’ produced significantly more fruit per hectare than all other genotypes, reaching 20,400 'fruit/ha. At Isabela, ‘Ma‘Afala’ and ‘G. Wilder Brash’ were the top performers, averaging 12,945' fruit/ha. High yielding genotypes at Corozal included ‘G. Wilder Brash’, ‘Huero’, ‘Mei Kakano’, ‘Ma‘Afala’, and ‘Mei Maoi’, averaging 13,692'kg.ha-1, while ‘Mei Puou’ had the lowest yield. At Isabela, ‘G. Wilder Brash’ and ‘Mei Kakano’ produced the highest yields, averaging 16,801 'kg.ha-1. Average fruit weight remained stable across years, sites, and genotypes, with a mean of 1.39' kg. Leaf nutrient concentrations were highest in ‘Ma‘Afala’, followed by ‘G. Wilder Brash’, despite all trees being grafted onto the same rootstock. High gross income per hectare can be attained with breadfruit, particularly given breadfruit’s resilience to storms and its minimal pest pressure, requiring few inputs.