I write a blog every Monday with original thoughts that may inspire my readers. However, I read an anonymous forwarded message on WhatsApp that I felt was very important, especially for the younger generation.
The message was as follows:
This year, I have seen more jamun (Indian blackberry) fruits in the market than I have ever seen in the last three decades.
Jamun fruits are literally carpeting the ground. Even trees that bore only a few fruits last year are shedding large quantities of jamun this year. Trees that were already fruiting heavily are now dropping fruit in abundance.
What exactly is going on?
Our grandmother used to say only one thing: “In years when jamun fruits fall this heavily during summer, there is a drought.”
According to plant science, this traditional wisdom is remarkably accurate. In science, this fascinating and somewhat alarming phenomenon is called “masting” or “stress fruiting.”
This final effort by trees to produce as many fruits as possible is sometimes called “suicide fruiting” or a “bumper crop.”
Let’s understand what this means and what science says about it in simple terms:
- Survival Instinct (The Struggle for Existence)
As the professor explained, this is nature’s way of ensuring the survival of the species. When a tree senses a shortage of underground water or receives signals that major climatic changes are on the way, it shifts into a kind of defence mode.
The tree “realizes” that it may not survive in the future. Instead of investing its energy in preserving itself, it channels all its resources into producing seeds (fruits) so that its species can continue to exist.
- Stopping New Leaves and Branch Growth
In such years, the tree largely stops producing new shoots, leaves, and branches. New growth requires considerable water and nutrients. Instead, the tree conserves that energy and focuses entirely on maximising fruit production.
This is why even trees that produced very few fruits last year are now heavily laden with fruit.
- Grandmother’s Prediction and Science (The Link to Drought)
Grandmother’s observation is quite accurate because plants often detect environmental changes much earlier and more sensitively than humans.
Jamun trees develop a deep taproot that penetrates far into the soil.
When groundwater levels drop significantly, these roots experience water stress.
This water stress can be an early indicator of an approaching drought or an unusually harsh summer.
Therefore, when an extraordinary abundance of jamun fruits appears during the summer, it may be nature’s warning of a future dry period.
In Short…
The jamun tree is not committing suicide. Rather, it is making a final, intensive effort to ensure the birth of the next generation through its seeds. This cycle of nature is truly astonishing.
Here, generations of traditional observation passed down by grandmothers seem to align closely with scientific principles.
So, enjoy the abundance of jamun this year—but also take this possible warning from nature seriously. It reminds us to use water and other resources carefully and responsibly.