tamarind is regarded as a multipurpose tree. It is widely used as a spice crop for seasoning of food and may also be consumed either fresh or as a processed product. In India the commercial cultivation is mainly done in Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Maharashtra, also in some other states but to a lesser extent. It is also grown as a homestead crop in many regions of the country. this presentation deals with the propagation aspects of the crop because although seed propagation is successful, there are vegetative methods of propagation which can be carried out in order to get a better plant

1. Propagation Technique in Tamarind
Andrew L Myrthong
2014-12-12
Production Technology of Spice Crops

2. Tamarind can propagated by two
methods
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

3. 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

4. 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

5.  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)

6. Fig: different types of nursery

7. Pots and Potting Mixture
• Plastic bags, clay, tin
cans(punctured) or natural
vegetation e.g., Banana
leaves or woven basket
• Best media is soil mixed
with sand and cow/chicken
dung(3:1:1)
Fig: pot sources

8. 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/ha
For direct sowing - 20kg/ha

9. 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%)

10. Fig: seed treatment

11. 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

12. Fig: Tamarind seedlings ready for transplanting

13. 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

14. 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

15. • 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

16. Grafting
• Enhance pod production
• Reduce length of time to bearing
• Reduce incidence of pest and disease
• Equipments required:
Fig: Budding Knife Fig: Budding Tape

17. 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

18. 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

19. Fig: Cleft grafting in tamarind

20. 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

21. Fig: Approach Grafting

22. 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

23. Fig: cover cut area with soil
and wrapped with polythene
Fig: severed the branch when
root development is observed

24. 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

25. 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 .