Tamarind monograph.pdf - Crops for the Future

evident that most of the studies are incomplete and limited to a few
locations; neither are they well documented nor catalogued. Lack of secure
financial support could lead to loss of accessions used in selecting, and the
importance of conserving landmarks in improvement of tamarind needs to be
stressed.
A better picture of the patterns of genetic diversity in tamarind could be
obtained by biochemical and molecular markers being more effectively used
to analyse genetic variation within and between populations. These modern
techniques have to be used in combination with other methods of
characterisation and evaluation in order to detect adaptive genetic variation.
The use of markers could enable the more rapid identification of genetic
variation in tamarind.
The majority of accessions held in working collections are not duplicated
elsewhere and are prone to destruction by catastrophic events such as fire
and hurricanes while natural populations are also being depleted for various
reasons. Thus there is the need to develop a national and regional
collaborative integrated approach for use linked to germplasm conservation.
8.3.4.1 The need to identify rootstocks
Since selected genotypes will be propagated vegetatively attention also has
to be given to rootstock geotypes in the event that materials are grafted.
Some research has started to evaluate rootstock genotypes (Sothishkumar
and McKeaslin, 2003). Growth after grafting is a suitable parameter by
which to characterise genotypes.
8.3.5 Germplasm in other countries
In other countries no formal germplasm collections have been made
although in Sri Lanka, a germplasm collection has been initiated at the Plant
Genetic Resources Centre, Gannoruwa, Peradeniya and the Postgraduate
Institute of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya. Although variation has
been detected on fruit quality, pod size, flower colour, tolerance to various
environmental conditions and pests and diseases, no formal cultivars have
yet been identified.
8.4 Identified cultivars
In India, Thailand and the Philippines, two major types of tamarind are
recognised based on the sweetness of the fruit pulp. These are ‘sweet fruit’
and ‘sour fruit’ types. Sometimes the cultivars are differentiated by pulp
colour, which may be red or brown (Plate 15). The red coloured pulp is
considered to be of superior quality due to its sweet taste. Generally
unselected tamarind cultivars are grown and these vary in fruit size and
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