Improving Rural Livelihoods through Domestication of Indigenous Fruit Trees in the Parklands of the Sahel - Indigenous Fruit Trees in the Tropics: Domestication, Utilization and Commercialization - page 193

production. Such studies will provide information on geographical and genetic
variation within species. A list of existing provenance and species trials for the
indigenous fruit trees in the Sahel is given in Table 10.1 (trials have been
established for all of the preferred species). Information about genetic variation
within selected species is given briefly below.

Baobab ( Adansonia digitata )

The pattern of genetic variation in the baobab has not been adequately
studied. However different types, based on bark characteristics, have been
classified in Mali (H. Sanou, personal communication) but not genetically
confirmed. These may be considered to be ecotypes, but it is necessary to
characterize the variation adequately.
Preliminary results from a 5-year-old species/provenance trial revealed
better growth of A. digitata compared with other Adansonia species, namely A.
za , A. fony , A. perrieri and A. gregorii (Sidibé, 2005). The study showed no
significant differences in growth between two Malian provenances. Sidibé and
Williams (2002) reported that leaf production is a major challenge due to its
seasonality. Irrigation extends leaf production in Sahel, and Sidibé and
Williams (2002) reported that the local black bark type responds well to this.
The same may also apply to fruit production, but this has not been
investigated. In Mali, some ecotypes were reported to have fruits with an
exceptionally high vitamin C content.

Tamarind ( Tamarindus indica )

Gunasena and Hughes (2000) reported high phenotypic variation in fruit traits
(length of pod, pod weight, seed number, pod colour and sweetness of pulp).
Nagarajan et al . (1998) reported extensive variation in foliage and flower
production, flower colour, fruit size, fruit pulp yield and wood quality. There

Table 10.1. Provenance trials for indigenous fruit tree species in the Sahel

Establishment No. of No. of

Species date provenances sites Site name and country

Adansonia spp. 2001 6 2 Samanko and Cinzana, Mali

Adansonia spp . 2001 6 1 Baguineda, Mali

Tamarindus indica 2001 8 1 Samanko, Mali

Tamarindus indica 1990 13 1 Dinderesso, Burkina Faso

Tamarindus indica 1990 13 1 Gonse, Burkina Faso

Tamarindus indica 2000 10 1 Bandia, Senegal

Vitellaria paradoxa 1997 5 1 Gonse, Burkina Faso

Ziziphus mauritiana 2000 8 1 Bandia, Senegal

Ziziphus mauritiana 2001 10 2 Samanko and Cinzana, Mali

Ziziphus mauritiana 2001 4 1 Baguineda, Mali

Ziziphus mauritiana 2001 7 1 Gonse, Burkina Faso

Ziziphus mauritiana 2002 3 1 Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso