International Journal of Noni Research - Noni Family

D.R. Singh et al. Morinda citrifolia L. – An evergreen plant for diversification in commercial horticulture
tree and native to South East Asia but has extensively spread throughout India
and the Pacific Islands extending up to the Hawaiian Islands. It is known that
Polynesians first took it from its homeland in Southern Asia. In Andaman and
Nicobar Islands, Morinda is widely found growing in the coastal belts, rocky
shores along fences, roadsides as well as in the wastelands of the islands.
Two main varieties ie. Morinda citrifolia L. var. citrifolia and Morinda
citrifolia L. var. bracteata are available in plenty in A& N islands. They are
locally known as Lorang, Burma phal, Pongee phal, Suraogi etc. by the
tribals of Andaman and Nicobar Island. (Singh, et. al., 2005). Today, Noni
grows in most regions of South Pacific, India, the Caribbeans, South America
and the West Indies. Noni’s broad proliferation gives testimony to its value to
traditional cultures. Historically, it was known as the “queen” of all canoe
plants. In Malaysia, it is known as Mengkudu. In South East Asia, it is known
as Nhau. In the islands of the South Pacific particularly in Samoa and Tonga,
the plant is known as Nonu. It is called, Noni in Raratonga and Tahiti, and
Noni in the Marquesas Islands and Hawaii. In Australia, it is known as
fromager, murier indien (French), Indian mulberry (English), nonu (Tahiti),
nen, nin (Marshall islands, Chuuk) etc.. (Morton, 1992, Francis, 2003).
The tropical humid climate is very much suitable for cultivation of Morinda
citrifolia L. (Singh, et. al., 2005).
Though it has greater demand hitherto, so far no efforts have been made for
its domestication which is possible by standardizing the propagation
techniques.
Importance and nature of plant
It is a potential under utilized fruit, which is being currently identified and
popularized after the devastating Tsunami that struck on 26, December 2005.
The Morinda tree attains a height of about 3-10 m. Plant forms have
variation in fruit size, its morphology, odour of ripe fruit and number of
fruits. Flower is white in colour, leaves are dark green, and fruits are
greenish yellow, fleshy, fetid and soft when ripe. Seeds are brown in color,
conical to oblong in shape, has the ability to retain viability for a month if
left in water. The wood is yellowish in color. The prime quality of the
Morinda tree is its medicinal value and its nature to withstand any type of
climatic conditions and environmental conditions and its competitiveness to
grow on all types of soils like, loamy sand to very rocky soils. The species
citrifolia is the best known to tolerate salty soils and salt spray. It is
intermediate in shade tolerance and grows under the canopy of forests as
well as in the open. Morinda grows naturally on the edges of mangroves,
shorelines and on the landward side of beach and road sides as strand
Intl. J. Noni Res. 2007, 2(1-2) 46