My guess for the best path forward would be multispecies hybridisation with Artocarpus (performed in a subtropical or tropical area) then growing bulk seedlings in ever colder climates. Cold tolerance is a multi-gene trait, so the chance of it being transferred by mentor grafting is low (unless it is imparted by a microbial endosymbiont perhaps?).
As a comparable historic example- until relatively recently Quercus were a tropical genus (the centre of diversity is in Mexico to this day). One time when the ice sheets retreated a group of them developed cold tolerance and headed north as a swarm of repeatedly hybridising species.
Nice! Fun stuff to think about. One obvious fruit that would be great to grow in the cool temperate climate would be mango. But my partner also loves mangosteen, so that would also be added on the list. But I'm sure there are also many awesome fruits that we just have little knowledge of because they don't transport/store well.
I was considering writing an article about making a cold hardy mango, too. Let's see if my preliminary research shows up anything particularly interesting and therefore worth writing about!
the root stocks dictate how big the tree will get, fruit tree nurseries use different species and varieties that are small to produce dwarf and semi-dwarf fruit tree. ironically since the mulberry family roots from cutting their are dwarf varieties that can be propagated, I think that might include jack fruit because i have seen dwarf varieties.
another thing to note is that growing in pots will greatly limit the final size of the tree, I've seen a 7-foot jackfruit fruiting in a pot in Mexico so I know it can be done.
the only thing I would worry about is the size of the fruit, though it probably wouldn't grow to full size too if that graft is even possible.
this the second time I written this, I clicked on read and deleted it all.
My guess for the best path forward would be multispecies hybridisation with Artocarpus (performed in a subtropical or tropical area) then growing bulk seedlings in ever colder climates. Cold tolerance is a multi-gene trait, so the chance of it being transferred by mentor grafting is low (unless it is imparted by a microbial endosymbiont perhaps?).
As a comparable historic example- until relatively recently Quercus were a tropical genus (the centre of diversity is in Mexico to this day). One time when the ice sheets retreated a group of them developed cold tolerance and headed north as a swarm of repeatedly hybridising species.
Yes, I agree. This was really just a crazy post I decided to write immediately after my surgery, but at least it gets the creative juices flowing!
Nice! Fun stuff to think about. One obvious fruit that would be great to grow in the cool temperate climate would be mango. But my partner also loves mangosteen, so that would also be added on the list. But I'm sure there are also many awesome fruits that we just have little knowledge of because they don't transport/store well.
I was considering writing an article about making a cold hardy mango, too. Let's see if my preliminary research shows up anything particularly interesting and therefore worth writing about!
the root stocks dictate how big the tree will get, fruit tree nurseries use different species and varieties that are small to produce dwarf and semi-dwarf fruit tree. ironically since the mulberry family roots from cutting their are dwarf varieties that can be propagated, I think that might include jack fruit because i have seen dwarf varieties.
another thing to note is that growing in pots will greatly limit the final size of the tree, I've seen a 7-foot jackfruit fruiting in a pot in Mexico so I know it can be done.
the only thing I would worry about is the size of the fruit, though it probably wouldn't grow to full size too if that graft is even possible.
this the second time I written this, I clicked on read and deleted it all.
Yes, the size of fruit is an issue. I'm hoping I can inspire someone to take up this project, and then we'll start seeing for real