Which tree species has the largest fruit by weight, commonly found in South Asia?

The tree species with the largest fruit by weight is the jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus). Jackfruits can reach about 55 kilograms (120 pounds), making them the largest fruits produced by trees. They can also grow close to 1 meter long and 50 centimeters wide.

Jackfruit belongs to the Moraceae family, which also includes figs, mulberries, and breadfruit. It is thought to have originated in or near the Western Ghats of India and is now widely cultivated across South and Southeast Asia. The fruit is botanically a multiple fruit, formed when the ovaries of many flowers fuse together.

Both unripe and ripe jackfruit are eaten. Green jackfruit has a mild flavor and fibrous texture, so it is often used in savory dishes, while ripe jackfruit has sweet, fragrant flesh surrounding dozens or hundreds of seeds. A single mature tree may produce around 200 fruits annually, with exceptionally productive older trees bearing as many as 500.

Jackfruit is often confused with breadfruit because both belong to the same family, but breadfruit is generally smaller and has a different texture and culinary use.