Abstract
Four experiments were carried out at Bangladesh Agricultural University- Germplasm Centre (BAU-GPC), Mymensingh and in Chittagong Hill Tracts to investigate the (i) minor fruit trees germplasm; (ii) distinguishing morphological characteristics of minor fruit germplasm; (iii) methods of propagation techniques; and (iv) postharvest behavior of minor fruits. Field experiments were laid out in RCB Design. The highest percent of respondent (54%), family (60%), cultivable land (83.33%), orchard area (90.67%) were middle aged (36-50 yrs), middle sized (3-5), up to 250 decimal and up to 200 decimal, respectively. The highest percent of occupation (65.33%), food habit (100%), sapling sale centre (73.33%), advantage (55.33%), disadvantage of cultivation (83.33%) and causes of less cultivation (50%) of local fruits were agriculture, rice, fruit saplings, saplings availability, low price of fruits and adoption of new crops, respectively. The main cause of being endangered of minor fruit trees is cultivation of other crops. The highest percent (38.67%) of fruit trees at homestead is mango and bael is the least (48%). The highest tree volume and leaf area among the accessions were 1.52 m3 and 124.92 cm2 for Monkey jack, 2.34 m3 and 33.63 cm2 for Aonla, 3.91 and 197.61 cm2 for Stargooseberry, 1.93 m3 and 108.23 cm2 for Roktogota, 9.31 m3 and 37 cm2 for Gutgutya, 0.58 m3 and 155.28 cm2 for Burmese grape, 4.52 m3 and 68.29 cm2 for Rose apple, 0.63 m3 and 45.80 cm2 for Cowa, 3.68 m3 and 18.36 cm2 for Peyalagota, respectively. The highest fruit weight (g) and % pulp among the accessions were 30.10 and 22.01 for Roktogota, 6.53 and 62.93 for Gutgutya, 31.21 and 93.87 for Aonla, 5.74 and 95.21 for Star gooseberry, 8.43 and 83.58 for Peyalagota, 22.73 and and 74.04 for Rose apple, 15.29 and 49.79 for Burmese grape and 52.26 and 59.78 for Cowa, respectively. The highest success and survivability were found by grafting in Aonla (95.83% and 92.50%), Star gooseberry (90.66% and 83%) and Peyalagota (85.67% and 77.66%) (Table 60-68), followed by seeding in Aonla (93.67% and 66.50%), Star gooseberry (89.66% and 81.33%), Peyalagota (80% and 76.67%), respectively. The highest success and survivability were found by seeding in Cowa (96% and 90.83%), Monkey jack (89.67% and 83.50%), Rose apple (94.67% and 89.50%), Gutgutya (82% and 76.83%), Burmese grape (94.67% and 89.66%) and Roktogota (80.83% and 77.66%), respectively (Table 60-68), followed by grafting in Cowa (88.17% and 82.33%), Monkey jack (78.66% and 72.17%), Rose apple (94.00% and 89.50%), Burmese grape (89.83% and 85.17%), layering in Gutgutya (80.50% and 68.66%), and cutting in Roktogota (79% and 65%) respectively. Due to main effect of temperature, the highest shelf life (days) of Aonla, Cowa, Rose apple, Gutgutya, Burmese grape, Star gooseberry, Peyalagota and Roktogota were 35.58, 17.38, 22.18, 13.48, 9.56, 13.25, 15.45 and 18.58 respectively. Due to main effect of polythene bag, the highest shelf life (days) of Aonla, Cowa, Rose apple, Burmese grape, Star gooseberry, Peyalagota and Roktogota were 42.88, 11.75, 18.31, 9.03, 4.10, 11.45, 18.88, respectively for transparent polythene bag but 12.16 of green polythene bag for Gutgutya. For combined effect of temperature and polythene bag the highest shelf life of Aonla, Cowa, Rose apple, Burmese grape, Star gooseberry, Peyalagota and Roktogota were 47.00, 20.75, 26.67, 15.59, 15.90, 18.70, and 22.20, respectively at 10°C x Transparent polythene bag but of Gutgutya was 15.83 at 10°C x Green polythene bag.