Tamarind monograph.pdf - Crops for the Future

an eco-geographic approach. Because of the long-lived nature of the trees
molecular and biochemical techniques of analysis should be combined with
biometrical measurements and other assessments of traits of value in
characterising any stocks to be put into working collections for potential use
in genetic improvement.
Additionally research is needed on the effective size of breeding
populations.
11.2.2 Genetic improvement
The genetic improvement goals are straightforward based on the available
material. They are: faster growth and higher yielding lines for selection for
different uses.
Since normal crossing is not an option, more trait specific work is needed so
that provenance trials can lead to selections which combine the desirable
characters, and then to cultivars developed from them. These should be
developed to fit the different land-use systems of agroforestry,
orchards/plantations, as well as certain stress conditions inherent in a
number of wastelands which need to be rehabilitated.
11.2.3 Propagation and establishment
Once cultivars are selected, propagation methods are necessary to produce
young plants and make them available to growers. Vegetative propagation
techniques should be standardised, simple and easily performed by farmers.
Where official agencies are involved, attention should be paid to the
protocols necessary for rapid propagation. Research is still needed here.
Not enough is known about the needs for Rhizobia or mycorrhizal in
tamarind cultivation. More research is needed. Whereas in commercial
operations pellets can be used, smallholders will need to know whether they
need to obtain soil from growing populations to mix into the mixtures they
put into planting pits for optimum growth.
11.2.4 Management of plants
One area of research which needs much more emphasis is understanding
flowering, fruit set and fruit production. The development of standardised
relatively low-cost sprays to enhance fruit production is an urgent research
need since growers will have to factor this cost into their cost-benefit
analyses.
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