Tamarind monograph.pdf - Crops for the Future

7.3.3 Ideotypes
It is essential therefore to identify different ideotypes for different purposes,
localities, environments and cultural practices. These then act as reference
guides. There is no universal ideotype suitable for all sites and end users.
Chuntanaparb and Ranganathan (1990) have described the characteristics of
such ideotypes (Table 7.3); they are extensive and to a degree theoretical but
are useful points of reference.
Table 7.3 Characteristics of ideotypes for tamarind fruit production
Character Proposed ideotype for
India
Product and
services
required
General
selection criteria
Required/other
information
Ideotype description
Crown
Stem
Shoots
Fruit
Pods for edible pulp, wood
for fuelwood, timber and
charcoal, leaves for fodder,
seed for extraction of starch
for textile and paper
production
Vigour, fruit quality, early
fruit set, resistance to pests
and insects
99
Proposed ideotype for Sri
Lanka
Fruit, branches for fuelwood,
bole for timber
Fruit and wood biomass
production, vigour, pest and
disease free
Fodder value of leaf Tolerates poor soil, low
water consumption,
regenerates naturally.
Maintained on common
lands, in home gardens and
along roadsides
Round large canopy with many branches for greater fruit
production
Large, with no branches up to a height of 2-3 m.
Longer terminal shoot length
Production should begin in the 4th or 5th year. There
should be greater yield of fruit with a good yield every
year instead of the current cyclical pattern. The fruiting
season could be longer. The fruit itself should be bigger
and fleshier
Discussion Selection criteria should be increased fruit yield and size
of pods
Source: Modified from Chuntanaparb and Ranganathan, 1990.