production technology of tamarind
TRANSCRIPT
Propagation Technique in Tamarind
Andrew L Myrthong2014-12-12
Production Technology of Spice Crops
Tamarind can propagated by twomethods
Seed propagation
• Collection, preparation and direct sowing of the seed
• Simple method
• Time taking
• Not true to type
• Seed can be collected when the mature trees have bear fruits
Vegetative method
• Grafting, budding or layering
• Quality is ensured(true to type)
• Less time taking
• Scions(shoot/bud) available throughout the year
*Best time for propagation depends on Local climate, water availability, and propagation method use
Selection of planting material
• Tree should have a good crown and strong trunk
• Disease free, undamaged and no signs of pest attack
• Pods and scions selected from tree that is more than 15 years
• Tree should be a regular bearer(for consistent pod and pulp yield)
Fig: Tamarind tree
Nursery establishment
• Avoid waterlogged areas
• Size of nursery depends on no. of trees
• Seeds may not have 100% viability
• Not all grafts and cuttings will root
• So 20-30% extra seeds/grafts/cuttings
beneficial
• Young trees do not require much water
Seedlings/cuttings require shade to prevent leaf scorch
30% sunlight to reach the top and 60% to reach the sides of the young plants
Use new fronds or grasses for shading
Fence to prevent foraging animals(Prone to damage by goats and cattle)
Fig: different types of nursery
Pots and Potting Mixture
• Plastic bags, clay, tin cans(punctured) or natural vegetation e.g., Bananaleaves or woven basket
• Best media is soil mixed with sand and cow/chicken dung(3:1:1)
Fig: pot sources
Seed propagation
• Fully ripe pods
• Dried in sun for 5-7 days
• Separate the pulp from the pod shell
• Extract seed by hand kneading
• Washing in water and dried in shade for 2 days
• Stored in air tight jars away from rats, mice and insects
• For raising seedling - 2 to 2.5kg/haFor direct sowing - 20kg/ha
Seed pre treatments
• Germination % of the seeds is 60-75%
• Seed treatment can increase germination
percentage:
a) Soaking in clean water for 24 hours(80%)
b) Cutting(scarifying)the seed coat(85%)
c) Both scarifying and soaking in water for 24
hours(92%)
Fig: seed treatment
Planting and germination
• Well prepared seed beds or pots at 2-3cm apart and depth of 1-2cm
• Cover with compost and watered
• Seed germinates in 5-10 days
• May take one month before shoots can be seen above the soil.
• Delayed germination is due to hard seed coat
• Transplanted when 30-40cm tall
Fig: seed placed at the bottom of the pit
Fig: covered with soil and watered
Fig: Tamarind seedlings ready for transplanting
Vegetative Propagation
• Practiced throughout the year
• Success per cent reduced during hot months
• Require shade and regular water
• Chemical rooting hormones improve the efficiency
• Scions selected should be free from disease and insect pest damage
Stem cuttings
• Easiest and cheapest vegetative method
• Three types:
Softwood cuttings: approx. 15cm
Semi hardwood cuttings: 18-20cm
Hardwood cuttings: not attempted due to poor rooting
• Clean cut and removed the leaves from the bottom nodes
• IBA@1000 ppm promotes rooting
• Softwood have better success over semi hardwood
• Terminal cuttings are preferred
• For transport they should be wrapped in a moist cloth to prevent
moisture loss
Fig: Tamarind cuttings
Grafting
• Enhance pod production
• Reduce length of time to bearing
• Reduce incidence of pest and disease
• Equipments required:
Fig: Budding Knife Fig: Budding Tape
Bud grafting
• Patch of bud(with bark) removed from a desirable scion
• A similar size of patch of bark removed from a superior tree
• Bud is inserted into the rootstock plant (9 months old)
• Bud is wrapped firmly with a plastic tape
• More than 90% success (Pathak et.al., 1992)
Fig: Patch budding in Tamarind
Cleft Grafting
• Cut off the top of the rootstock(20-30cm above the soil)
• Vertical cut on the cross section of the stem
• Select a scion with diameter similar to the rootstock(1-2cm dia.)
• Cut the base into a wedge shape
• Insert the scion into the rootstock and tied with a grafting tape
• Successful grafts will form new shoots in 3-4 weeks
• Bears in 3-4 years of planting
Fig: Cleft grafting in tamarind
Approach grafting
• Small section of bark removed(1-2cm wide and 5-6 cm length)
• deep enough to expose inner tissue
• Allows close contact between tissue of the rootstock and the scion
• Bound firmly with a grafting tape and waxed
• Prevents entry of water
• Increase temperature and humidity
• Healing process is usually longer
• Gives 52-88% success
Fig: Approach Grafting
Air Layering
• Select young branch
• Remove 2-3cm area of the bark
• Covered with soil mixture or root promoting material such as coir fibre dust, watered and kept in position by wrapping with clear polythene film
• Tied the plastic firmly at both ends
• Retain moisture and encourage rooting
• After 2-3 months the growing roots are observed
• Use of IBA reduce rooting period from 12 to 6-8 weeks
• Ideal season is June - July
Fig: cover cut area with soil and wrapped with polythene
Fig: severed the branch when root development is observed
Micropropagation
• Nodal segments from mature trees used as explant
• Cultured in half strength MS media with combination of NAA and BAP
• Sucrose is the carbon source
• Promising approach for large scale multiplication of elite types
Fig: Tissue cultured Plant
References
• International centre for Underutilised Crops (ICUC). Fruits for the Future: Tamarind (Tamarindus indica L.).
• J.S.Pruthi. Minor Spices and Condiments Crop Management and Post Harvest Technology .
• Rema, J., Krishnamoorthy, B., and Mathew, P. A. 1997. Vegetative propagation of major tree spices. In: Journal of Spices and Aromatic Crops 6(2) : 87-105
• Singh, S.P., Choudhary, M.R. Production Technology of Fruit Crops In Wasteland .