NUTMEG AND MACE | NUTMEG | MACE | javitri | Myristica fragrans | jaiphal

NUTMEG AND MACE

NUTMEG

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●Scientific name - Myristica fragrans

●Family - Myristicaceae

● Nutmeg produces two separate spices, namely nutmeg and mace (Javitri in Hindi).

● Nutmeg is the dry grain of the seed which is hard and brown, encased in a fine and crumbly shell and macerates the dry aril that surrounds it.

● Origin - Moluccas island ( Indonesia)

● Indian name- jaiphal (hindi)

Jayikai ( kannada)

Jathikka( Malayalam)

Jatiphala( Sanskrit)

Jathikai ( Tamil)

Jajikai( Telugu)

NUTMEG LEAF

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● Another name for nutmeg in English is fragrant and tree nutmeg.

● Nutmeg is dense and attractive evergreen foliage.

● The number of chromosomes in nutmeg is 2n = 42.

USES OF NUTMEG

□ Nausea, stomach, spasms and pains, intestinal gas and diarrhea.

● Nutmeg trees are normally dioecious in nature.

● A sandy to clayey soil type is required for the cultivation of nutmeg.

● Nutmeg needs a warm and rainy tropical climate.

● 700 m is the altitude of the nutmeg.

● Nutmeg is susceptible to the climatic characteristics of strong winds.

● For the cultivation of nutmeg 25 to 30 degrees Celsius are required.

● Nutmeg requires an average rainfall of 2650 mm.

● The daily temperature in nutmeg ranges from 23 to 31 degrees Celsius (high to low)

● The male nutmeg tree has erect branches and the leaves are generally smaller.

● Male trees are noticeably less leafy than female trees, the shape of the trees is not so regular. IMPORTANT NOTES: - THE CALCIUM OXALATE CONTENT OF THE LEAVES IS ALSO TAKEN AS A CRITERIA FOR SEX IDENTICATION IN NUTMEG.

● THE NUTMEG POLLINATOR IS WARM.

● The root system of nutmeg usually consists of a main root system.

● Type of fruit - Drupe

● Propagation - Seed (time required for germination 30-90 days after sowing).

● Transplanting: 18-24 month old seedlings are used for transplantation.

● promising propagation method: using the epicotyl graft technique.

● Planting (rainy season): the seedlings are transplanted into the main field when they are aged between 12 and 18 months with a distance of 8 * 8m.

● Since nutmeg has a very superficial root system, the trench should not be deep and generally not intercropping very close to the trunk.

HARVESTING

● Seedlings start producing in 7 - 8 years, while grafts start producing in 4 - 5 years.

● Nutmeg blooms over the years with a peak in a few months.

● Therefore, the peak harvest season is from June to August.

● The fruit takes 9 months from flowering to harvest.

● When the fleshy ring (cover) of the crack opens, the fruit is fully ripe for harvesting.

● The harvesting phase of nutmeg is when the fruit is toasted and shows a bright red mace.

● Nutmeg is harvested by hand or harvested with a collection basket on a long stick.

● Once dry, the club should be stored in a dark warehouse in the tropics for approximately 3 months.

● The drying temperature of nutmeg is below 45 degrees centigrade.

● In nutmeg, insects can be killed by spraying.

● The dried aril is removed from the seed as it is mace.

YIELD

● Individual nutmeg weight - 60 g

Seed weight- 6 to 7 gm

Mace weight - 3 to 4 gm

Rest is pericarp

● Average 2000 to 3000 fruit per tree per year.

SEX IN NUTMEG

■ The main problem facing nutmeg cultivation is the segregation of seedlings in a 1: 1 ratio for male and female trees, which results in 50% unproductive trees. Therefore, to overcome this problem, it is now recommended to plant grafts with female tree scions.

■ For every 10 female trees, 1 male tree was kept.

■ The rest of the male can become female by working on it.

PROTECTION PLAN

○ DIEBACK (Diplodia natalensis)

○ THREAD BLIGHT(Marasmius sp.)

○ FRUIT ROT (Diplodia natalensis)

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