Guideline on clonal propagation of MELIA VOLKENSII

Abstract

Melia volkensii is an indigenous drought tolerant and multipurpose tree species endemic to the Arid and semi-arid areas of eastern Africa. Its common names are Melia, tree of knowledge (English); Mukau (Kamba, Tharaka and Mbeere), Tile (Boran) Boba, Mbamba (Somalia, Oromo) Maramarui (Samburu), and Kirumbutu (Taita). Melia is a deciduous tree that attains a height of 6 to 20 m and an average diameter of about 25 cm. The crown is open while the bark is grey and fairly smooth. Leaves are bright green, up to 35 cm long, compound, with 3-7 deeply lobed leaflets that are densely hairy when young. The flowers are small, white and fragrant, arranged in loose inflorescences. Mature fruits are yellow later developing brownish patches due to the deposit of cork. The fruit is an ovoid drupe 3 to 4 cm long with each fruit containing one to five seeds that are enclosed in a very hard and thick endocarp (nut). The seeds are oval, about 2 cm long and 0.5 cm wide. There are about 200 seeds per kg of nuts, with the average number of seeds per kg of extracted seed ranging from 3000 to 3,500. At the radicle end of the seed is an appendage called the caruncle. M. volkensii occurs naturally in the semi-arid zone of Ethiopia, Somalia, Kenya and Tanzania at altitudes between 100 m and 1700 m, in areas with mean annual rainfall of 300-1000 mm and temperature range of 26 - 38 oC (Orwa et al., 2009) (Figure 1). The species is found in deciduous bushlands in association with Acacia-Commiphora vegetation. The species grows well mostly on sandy soils, sandy loams, or sandy clay soils with good drainage.