Domestication potential of selected indigenous fruit trees in Mukono district

Abstract

Indigenous fruit trees are predominantly growing in the wild in Uganda. Domestication of indigenous fruit trees involves identification, capturing of germplasm from the wild and the incorporation into existing farming systems. The main objective of this study was to identify indigenous fruit trees with the greatest potential for domestication and to evaluate the most appropriate propagation methods for the most highly ranked indigenous fruit tree species found in areas surrounding Mabira Forest Reserve, Mukono District, Uganda. The survey results indicate that there are five indigenous fruit trees in Mukono namely Garcinia buchananii, Canarium schweinfurthii, Tarmarindus indica, Vangueria apiculata and Pseudospondius microcarpa. None of these fruit species has ever been cultivated. Garcinia buchananii was ranked the most important. Green house trials on evaluation of the most appropriate propagation methods showed that the germplasm of Garcinia buchananii can be captured through seed. Brazing seeds gave the best germination percentage (93%) followed by soaking in cold water (78%) compared to untreated seeds (51%). Results from cuttage and layerage propagation showed that G. Buchananii is a difficult-to-root fruit tree species with a slow response to rooting hormone. While callus was formed on only 6.6% of softwood cuttings treated with 0.4-0.8% IBA after a period of 9 weeks, there was no response to airlayering.