Food, Environment!’ Tweak Reforestation Program; Grow ‘Kulo’ By Tissue Culture

The recent scientific study which emphasized the importance of the Breadfruit (Artocarpus altilis), locally known as “Kulo” or “Rimas,” in addressing hunger and global warming should prompt our Department of Environment and Natural Resources to tweak its ineffective reforestation program and focus on the propagation of this endemic tree species.
Unlike other forestation species which need to be propagated through seed germination, “Kulo” which has very little seeds, is comonly grown using it shoots, buds and other vegetative parts.
What makes “Kulo” propagation more exciting is the development of the “Tissue Culture” technology which allows the production of millions of planting materials from just a few vegetative parts of the tree.
A recent publication of Breadfruit Institute of the National Tropical Botanical Garden based in Hawaii said: “Each individual plant cell has the potential to become a whole plant in the right conditions. In vitro (tissue culture) propagation is a recently developed method to propagate breadfruit trees. Buds, shoots, or other small vegetative parts of the plant are thoroughly, washed and disinfested to reduce pathogens, such as fungus and bacteria, cut into small pieces, and placed in a growing medium.”
Planting “Kulo” in the denuded mountains of the country will not only produce a good substitute to our traditional food crops but only contribute to neutralizing global warming.
“Breadfruit (Artocarpus altilis) is a species of flowering tree in the mulberry and jackfruit family (Moraceae) believed to be a domesticated descendant of Artocarpus camansi originating in New Guinea, the Maluku Islands, and the Philippines. Its name is derived from the texture of the moderately ripe fruit when cooked, similar to freshly baked bread and having a potato-like flavor,” an entry in wikipedia said.
“Breadfruit trees grow to a height of 26 metres (85 feet)” and is
“one of the highest-yielding food plants, with a single tree producing up to 200 or more grapefruit-sized fruits per season, requiring limited care. In the South Pacific, the trees yield 50 to 150 fruits per year. Studies in Barbados indicate a reasonable potential of 15–30 tonnes per hectare (6.7–13.4 short ton/acre),” the wikipedia entry said.
The DENR, which had been eerily quiet and seemingly inactive over the last 18 months, could make a very positive move by considering the massive propagation of this native tree species which grows in almost all parts of the country.
The DENR could engage the NTBG Breadfruit Institute to obtain valuable technical assistance in the “Tissue Culture” propagation of “Kulo.”
This will certainly be a successful reforestation strategy because people do not cut down the trees which give them food.
Added to that, the massive planting of “Kulo” which is a natural growing species would address the concerns of environmentalists who oppose the idea of growing commercial trees species as part of the. reforestation program.
#GovernanceIsCommonSense!
#KungGustoMaramingParaan!
(Photo of the Breadfruit was downloaded NTBG website.)