WBC-VIII-Vol.4 – Resources – Forestry, Plantations and ... - BambuSC

internode length, height, girth, straightness, number of culms/clump and disease resistance of the culms. The
maximum and minimum scores of these characters are decided on the basis of the phenotypic average value of
base population of the species. The total score while evaluating the candidate plus clump is fixed to 100. The
candidate clump, if attains the pre decided score and more would be declared as plus clump. After that, the
rhizomes/culms will be taken from the selected plus clumps for establishment of germ-plasm bank and further
multiplication using various proliferation techniques for supplying improved planting stock in plantation
activities. Selection of high yielding clones coupled with suitable agro techniques for raising bamboo plantation
can improve bamboo productivity substantially.
Keeping such rational approach in view and using selection index method (Banik 1995) as discussed above, the
superior genotypes of the priority bamboo species in Northeast India were selected and conserved in
bambusetum at Rain Forest Research Institute (RFRI), Jorhat, Assam (Table 2). These plus clumps are under
genetic testing in multi-location trials at different places for further recommendations and deployment in the
country.
Table 2. Superior Genotypes of Bamboo at Bambusetum - RFRI
S.N. Species No. of Plus Clumps
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Bambusa tulda
B. bambos
Dendrocalamus hamiltonii
Bambusa balcooa
B. nutans
B. pallida
Collection and Conservation of Plus Plumps in Germ-plasm banks
50
50
50
49
25
25
Both in-situ and ex-situ conservation measures are being adopted to preserve the genetic resources of bamboos
in India. In-situ conservation measures include establishment of preservation plots in every state, where the
biodiversity is being periodically monitored. In addition, there are 10 biosphere reserves (Maikhuri et al. 1998),
85 national parks and 450 wildlife sanctuaries (Anon 1997), which include the natural habitat of bamboo also.
The bamboos are also protected by the local people in sacred groves. The major limitations of in-situ
conservation are that natural stands of bamboo are scattered in pockets over large areas making it difficult to
declare several bamboo reserves.
Ex-situ conservation activities for preservation of important genetic resources of bamboo need more emphasis.
So far these activities are limited to establishment of bambusetum and germ-plasm banks. Clumps with higher
scores (as discussed in Selection of Bamboo Plus Clumps) designated as plus clumps are used for germ-plasm
conservation. Germ-plasm of selected clumps in the form of off-sets/rhizomes from 1-2 years old clumps should
be collected in replicates and planted in the germ-plasm banks/bambusetums. Rhizomes are dug out from the
soil preferably during February to May each year. Special care must be taken during collection so that the buds
VIII World Bamboo Congress Proceedings Vol 4-18