Tamarind monograph.pdf - Crops for the Future

Chapter 8. Genetic Resources
8.1 Introduction
H.P.M. Gunasena and D.K.N.G. Pushpakumara
Although there is a wealth of tamarind germplasm across the regions where
it occurs in the wild or has been naturalised, no systematic germplasm
collection and evaluation has been attempted to date in spite of the current
value and future potential of the crop. Most countries have not considered it
as a priority species. This may be due to its present modest utility value and
wide use in subsistence economies.
Tamarind populations are also not considered endangered and hence there is
low priority for its conservation. However, several countries in Africa have
prioritised tamarind for conservation. In Sudan prioritisation for genetic
conservation has been studied by collecting information through on-market
surveys of non-wood products in relation to export and home consumption
(FNC/FAO, 1995). These surveys revealed that tamarind products used for
home consumption ranked number one among the species studied. Other
countries in Africa, (Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Côte d'Ivoire, Gambia,
Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Mauritania, Nigeria and Senegal) have prioritised it
for conservation based on its utilisation and value. Accordingly, the need to
explore, collect, evaluate, conserve and use tamarind germplasm has been
emphasised (FAO, 1999). These studies as well as other consumer surveys
conducted in India (Marothia and Gauraha, 1992) show that although
tamarind does not contribute in a major way to the economy nor is it traded
extensively in the international market, it is of overwhelming importance to
local people in rural areas and worthy of conservation.
8.2 The need for working collections
The wide variability that exists in tamarind in terms of acidity of the pulp,
pod bearing ability and pod size has to be used for genetic improvement in
countries of Africa, and South and Southeast Asia. In order to incorporate
such traits, germplasm collections have to be available in each region for
scientists to work on. The collections should be subjected to continued
evaluation to select and release desirable types. In this respect an African
Tamarind Network has been formed to study genetic variation in the African
tamarind under the sponsorship of ICRAF, Nairobi, Kenya, (Simons, 1998
personal communication).
From such diverse germplasm, plants with sweeter, more juicy pulp and
other desirable characteristics can be selected for tree improvement
programmes. In recent years less acidic, sweet tamarind types have been
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