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Rambutan N18 variety

Rambutan (Nephelium lappaceum) is a tropical evergreen fruit tree of South-East Asian origin. It was introduced to Kerala from Malaysia and Sri Lanka about seven decades ago and is now grown in pockets of Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and the north-east. N18, a Malaysian selection propagated in India by Homegrown Biotech (Kottayam), is one of the principal commercial budded varieties.

Key characteristics

  • Scientific name: Nephelium lappaceum
  • Variety origin: Malaysia (N18)
  • Bearing age: fruits in years 2-3 after planting from budded plants, making it one of the earliest-bearing selections available in India
  • TSS: approximately 20 deg Brix
  • Climate: 22-30 deg C optimum; at least 150 cm of well-distributed annual rainfall
  • Soil: well-drained loamy soils with pH 4.5-6.5

Cultivation

N18 is propagated through patch or T-budding on seedling rootstock and is planted at around 8 x 8 m spacing in commercial orchards, with closer spacings tried under high-density layouts. Pits are filled with topsoil and farmyard manure. Drip irrigation and mulching are widely used; young plants benefit from partial shade in establishment years. The cultivar is dioecious or polygamous in flowering habit; bisexual selections such as N18 simplify pollination management.

Pest and disease profile

Fruit-piercing moths, fruit-spotting bugs and mealybug are the main field pests. Anthracnose and stem-end rot affect fruit quality during humid spells.

Adoption and use

Most Indian production is sold as fresh fruit through speciality and metro markets, with limited processing into juice and canned fruit. Demand has grown substantially since 2015 as urban consumers experiment with tropical exotics. N18, alongside related Malaysian and Sri Lankan selections, is the principal planting material used by commercial nurseries in Kerala and Karnataka.

(No close sibling entries in this bundle group.)

References

  1. Status and prospects of rambutan cultivation in India. ResearchGate.
  2. Rambutan Cultivation: some innovative techniques. Krishi Jagran.