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 .