This document provides information about a presentation on the advanced production of rambutan (Nephelium lappaceum). It discusses the importance, morphology, ecophysiology, cultural management, pest and disease management, harvesting and yield of rambutan. Key points include that rambutan is native to Southeast Asia, contains various nutrients and health benefits, and requires a warm tropical climate for growth. Cultural practices discussed include land preparation, planting, fertilization, irrigation, and mulching. Common pests and diseases are also outlined along with their management.

1. WELCOME TO THE PRESENTATION
Course title: Advanced Fruit Production
Course code: Hort. 501
Prepared By
• 19Hort-JD17M • 19Hort-JD18M • 19Hort-JD19M • 19Hort-JD20M • 19Hort-JD21M
Department of Horticulture
Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh-2202

2. IMPORTANCE, MORPHOLOGY,
ECOPHYSIOLOGY, CULTURE AND
MANAGEMENT OF RAMBUTAN
(Nephelium lappaceum)

3. Contents
• Introduction
• Importance
• Morphological description
• Eco-physiology
• Cultural management
• Insect pest and disease management
• Harvesting and Yield
• Storage and packaging
• References

4. • The rambutan (Nephelium lappaceum) is a
medium-sized tropical tree in the family
Sapindaceae.
• The rambutan is native to the Indonesian
region and other regions of tropical
Southeast Asia. It is closely related to
several other edible tropical fruits including
the lychee, longan, and mamoncillo.
• The name "rambutan" is derived from the
Malay word rambut meaning "hair", a
reference to the numerous hairy
protuberances of the fruit, together with the
noun-building suffix -an. Similarly, in
Vietnam, it is called chôm chôm (meaning
"messy hair").
Classification of Rambutan (Nephelium lappaceum)
Kingdom : Plantae
(unranked) : Angiosperm
(unranked) : Eudicots
(unranked) : Rosids
Order : Sapindales
Family : Sapindaceae
Genus : Nephelium
Species : N. lappaceum
Rambutan

5. Importance of Rambutan
Nutrients Contents
• These fruits contain Carbohydrate, Protein, Fat, Phosphorous, Iron , Calcium and Vitamin C.
Its skin contains tannin while the fruit contains saponin. The seeds, on the other hand, have
fat and polifenol while the leaves contain tannin and saponin. Rambutan are a great tasting,
healthy addition to anyone's diet, though diabetics should be aware of their high sugar
content.
Benefits
• Rambutans are very beneficial when it comes to reducing fat, making skin and hair softer,
treat dysentery, treat diabetes and cure fever. This fruit is known to be one of the best fruits
from Southeast Asia because of its host of health benefits.

6. Importance of Rambutan (cont..)
Toxicity
• There are traces of an alkaloid in the seed, and the testa contains saponin and tannin. The
seeds are said to be bitter and narcotic. The fruit rind also is said to contain a toxic saponin
and tannin. The seed of the Rambutan should not be eaten raw due to its high level of
toxicity and is also said to be narcotic.
Products
• Rambutan is a popular garden fruit tree. Rambutan trees with their abundant colored fruit
make beautiful landscape specimens. Its fruits can be processed to products like jam, jellies,
cocktail, sweets and canned Rambutan. Its sweets are used for pie (as raisin), ice cream and
fruit ice.

7. Morphological Description of Rambutan
• Trees: It is an evergreen tree growing to a height of 12–20 m.
Rambutan trees can be male (producing only staminate
flowers and, hence, produce no fruit), female (producing
flowers that are only functionally female), or hermaphroditic
(producing flowers that are female with a small percentage of
male flowers).
• Leaves: Leaves are alternate, 10–30 cm long, pinnate, with
3- 11 leaflets, each leaflet 5–15 cm wide and 3–10 cm broad,
with an entire margin.

8. Morphological Description (cont…)
• Flower: The flowers are small, 2.5–5 mm, apetalous, discoidal,
and borne in erect terminal panicles 15–30 cm wide.
• Fruit: Fruit is a round to oval single-seeded berry, 3–6 cm (rarely
to 8 cm) long and 3–4 cm broad, borne in a loose pendant cluster
of 10–20 together. The leathery skin is reddish (rarely orange or
yellow), and covered with fleshy pliable spines, hence the name,
which means 'hairs'. Furthermore, the spines (also known as
spinterns) contribute to the transpiration of the fruit, which can
affect the fruit's quality.
• The fruit flesh, which is actually the aril, is translucent, whitish or
very pale pink, with a sweet, mildly acidic flavor very
reminiscent of grapes.

9. Eco-physiology of Rambutan
Climate
• Rambutan is adapted to warm tropical climate, humid regions having well-distributed
rainfall. It is grown commercially within 12–15° of the equator.
Altitude
• The tree flourishes from sea-level to 1,600 or even 1,800 ft (500-600 m).
Temperature
• It requires around 22–30°C temperature for optimum growth. The higher temperature
(>40⁰C) also affected the growth and development of plants.

10. Eco-physiology of Rambutan (cont..)
Relative Humidity
• The average relative humidity is 82 %.
Soil
• Rambutan is grown successfully in wide range of soils. Well drained sandy loam to clay
loam soils with organic matter are most suitable for optimum growth and yield. The
optimum soil pH is 4.5 to 6.5. Rambutan needs good drainage as it is sensitive to water
logging condition. The orchard in slight sloppy land has been found performing better.
Rainfall
• The plant requires good rainfall of 200-500 cm well distributed through out the year. The
heavy rainfall during maturity period causes cracking of fruits. The dry season should not
last much over 3 months.

11. Varieties
• Victoria
• Roxas
• Arka Coorg Arun
• BARI Rambutan-1
BARI Rambutan - 1
• High fruit yielding, regular bearer, plant large and very bushy, big sized fruit (51.4g),
very juicy, sweet (TSS-19%) and small seeded, fruit ovoid to ellipsoid, bright red,
leathery rind covered with tubercles consists of soft fleshy and spines, edible portion
(58%), flower initiation February to march and fruit set March to April. This variety
cultivation is suitable in all region of Bangladesh.

12. Cultural management (cont..)
Preparation of planting materials
• Select well-developed seeds from mature/ripe fruits of the recommended varieties/selection.
• Remove mucilage from the seeds by rubbing them with fine sawdust, ash or old newspaper.
• Germinate the seeds immediately after extraction in light loamy soils or in germination beds
made up of sawdust.
• Germinated seedlings should be ready for potting in 24 days after sowing or 10 days after
germination in 15 cm x 20 cm perforated plastic bags containing garden soil and place them
in nursery shed.
• Water them immediately after planting in polyethylene bags. Then water every 2 to 3 days
or as the need arises.
• The rootstocks would be ready for asexual propagation in 8-12 months; then 6 months from
grafting, it would be ready for field planting.

13. Land preparation
• Clear/Underbrush and remove all stumps.
• Plow and harrow thoroughly to loosen the soil.
• Stake at a distance of 8-10 meters between hills and 8-10 meters between rows. Prepare holes
30 centimeters in diameter at a depth of 30 centimeters.
Cultural management (cont..)
Planting
• Remove plastic bag and plant the seedling into the prepared hole
without breaking the ball of soil. A suitable hole must allow the
young roots to spread out. In each prepared hole, place 1 kg of
organic fertilizer or composted animal manure 1-2 months
before planting.
• Cover the hole with top soil and press gently. Water the plants
immediately after planting.

14. Cultural management (cont..)
Fertilizer
• In heavy rainfall areas, the addition of trace elements may be necessary, as organic matter is
quickly decomposed and leached. Additional light applications of nitrogen are required
regularly when heavy bagasse mulching is used. Different doses of fertilizer at different time
are given below:-

15. Cultural management (cont..)
Irrigation
• Rambutan is a drought sensitive plant that requires plenty of water during its growing
period. Water the plant constantly during the first dry season after planting because this is
the most critical period of the plant.
Mulching
• The application of dried weeds, grasses and other organic residues as a mulch around the
base of both young and mature rambutan trees is a common means of retaining soil
moisture, preventing weed growth, reducing soil temperature and through incorporation of
decayed residues, soil fertility is increased.

16. Insects pest management
Insect pest Damage Control
Fruit Borer
(Conopomorpha cramerella)
Larval exudates on seed, tunneling
between the rind and the aril
Spray trichlorphon,
carbaryl or pyrethrins
Leaf-eating Loofer (Oxyodes scrobicula) Leaves and young shoots are eaten
by the young caterpillars
Spray Malathion,
Carbaryl or Pyrethrin.
Thrips (Thrips spp.) Leaflets become curled, florets fall
and reduces fruit setting
Systemic insecticides
Mealy Bug (Planococcus citri ) Feeds on the sap exuded White oil emulsion and
lime-sulfur, Spray with
Malathion, Roxion
Mites (Tetranychus spp.) Inflorescences infested Spray Dimethoate

17. Diseases management
Diseases Damage Control
Powdery Mildew (Oidium
nepheli)
Mycelia appear as a white-yellow dusty
deposit on the leaves and inflorescences,
Floret drops
Fungitox, Benlate, Bayleton,
Benomyl and Mancozeb
Sooty Mold (Meliola nephelii) Leaves and fruits damaged by the
sucking insects such as mealy bugs,
scales and red mites, Both leaves and
fruits develop a black, sooty mold on the
surface
Carbaryl and mineral oil
supplemented with benomyl
Damping-off Affected most in young seedlings Spray with Benlate
Leaf Spot (Phomopsis sp.) Necrotic spots with yellow margins
appear on the leaves which later turn
brown
Spray mancozeb

18. Harvesting
• Harvest Rambutan fruits when skin is pinkish red. Rambutan fruits
do not ripen at the same time even within a bunch and this
necessitates harvesting by priming.
• Harvesting is done using secateurs or a long pole with a hook on one
end. Avoid making damage to the branches while harvesting as these
are the sources of next crop.
• Harvesting schedules in a moderately-sized orchard (200- 300 trees)
are three times a week during the height of the season.
• The entire fruit cluster is cut from the branch by harvesters. If single
fruits are picked, they should be snapped off with a piece of the stem
attached, so as not to rupture the rind. The fruits must be handled
carefully to avoid bruising and crushing, and kept dry, cool, and
well-ventilated to delay spoilage.

19. Yield
• Yields 1.2 tonnes per hectare (0.5 tons/acre) in young
orchards; and
• Yields 20 tonnes per hectare (8 tons per acre) on mature trees.
• The fruits should be kept under shade. Fruits are graded based on
size and degree of ripeness. Then they are washed and dried before
packing. Fruits of good quality are selected and packed by placing
them in a ventilated box or case of 60 cm x 28 cm x 28cm.
Storage and packaging

20. References
 Bin Osman, M. S., & Chettanachitara, C. (1987). Postharvest insects and other pests of
Rambutan. Rambutan: fruit development, postharvest physiology and marketing in
ASEAN/edited by PF Lam, S. Kosiyachinda.
 Galindo, R. A., & Loquias, M. P. (2006). Rambutan production guide.
 Sankar, V., Tripathi, P. C., & Karunakaran, G. Central Horticultural Experiment Station
Indian Institute of Horticultural Research Chettalli–571 248, Kodagu, Karnataka E mail:
cheschettalli@ yahoo. co. in.
 Wikipedia contributors. (2019, September 22). Rambutan. In Wikipedia, The Free
Encyclopedia. Retrieved 22:02, September 23, 2019, from
https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Rambutan&oldid=917086934

21. Thanks for your patience!