Propagation of Thanh Chuong black canarium

(Baonghean) - In recent years, black canarium is considered a specialty fruit with economic value. However, due to the lack of quality seed sources, the productivity and quality of the fruit are affected. Therefore, propagating black canarium is necessary.

In Nghe An, black canarium trees are distributed in some districts such as Thanh Chuong, Do Luong, Anh Son, Tan Ky. Of which, Thanh Chuong black canarium trees are considered to be of the best quality. Many people in communes such as Phong Thinh, Cat Van, Thanh Nho, Hanh Lam, Thanh Duc, Thanh Thuy, Thanh Tien, Thanh Lien consider this a crop that contributes to hunger eradication and poverty reduction. Through annual monitoring, each mature tree yields fruit > 100 kg, with the current price of 45,000 - 50,000 VND/kg. If each household has 5 - 6 trees in the garden, they can earn 20 - 25 million VND/year, these are trees that are 10 - 15 years old. Black canarium trees planted in Thanh Chuong district have the ability to grow and develop well. Many canarium trees have very high yields, good fruit quality, bringing significant income to farming households.

Grafting to propagate black canarium trees in Thanh Chuong.

However, the canarium trees in the districts that currently exist are mainly grown naturally or planted by seeds planted by people themselves. The plants are not selected and cared for, so the yield is unstable, one year it is good, the other year it is bad, the quality of the fruit is not uniform. Most of the trees produce low quality fruit, the fruit is astringent, sour, some trees even have fruit that does not ripen or only partially ripens. Trees grown by seeds take a long time to bear fruit (7-8 years to bear fruit), the trees have a high canopy frame, making it difficult to harvest, care for and prevent pests and diseases... However, the biggest difficulty currently facing the development of canarium trees is the lack of high-quality seedlings, including in Thanh Chuong district. Therefore, it is very necessary to apply scientific and technological advances to propagate canarium trees by grafting to create high-quality seedlings, shortening the fruiting time, thereby building demonstration models to create momentum for the development and expansion of canarium trees in Thanh Chuong district. The project "Application of scientific and technological advances in breeding and developing black canarium trees in Thanh Chuong district" is implemented by the Gia Lam Fruit and Vegetable Experimental Research Center under the Central Fruit and Vegetable Research Institute. The goal is to protect and promote the local black canarium seed source, and establish nurseries to produce canarium seeds among the people.

Grafting propagation shortens the fruiting time and restores the black canarium growing profession in Thanh Chuong district. This method has the advantage of grafted trees that quickly produce fruit (the 3rd year after planting, the tree bears fruit for harvest), the young trees inherit good characteristics from the mother tree, the multiplication coefficient is high, the tree has a low canopy frame, so it is convenient for care, harvesting and pest control. Specifically, a nursery model for black canarium seed production has been built in Thanh Lien commune.

In 2013, the Provincial Agricultural Extension Center cooperated with Gia Lam Vegetable and Fruit Experimental Research Center to transfer and provide grafted seedlings, planting 1.5 hectares in Bac Thanh commune (Yen Thanh). After nearly 1 year of planting, the trees grew and developed well. According to the plan, in September 2014, planting 2 hectares in Khai Son commune (Anh Son) using the combined agricultural and forestry method, this is a model of planting non-timber forest products with both economic goals and environmental protection, contributing to climate change mitigation.

Article and photos:Nguyen Huu Duc