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, Canahum 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.