Yong chak (Stink Bean or Bitter Bean or Twisted Cluster Bean) tree: - A potential shade tree with economic value

Abstract

Tea has an intrinsic affinity towards shade. Tea plant is grown under a canopy of shade tree. The relationship between “tea- shade tree” facilitates various physiological functions of tea, leading to possess its vigour, yield and quality of the final product. The shade tree has no role in economy except providing shade and organic matters to tea bushes. Here we would propose a tree plant called “yong chak” as a shade tree which would be boosting tea economy since the fruit of the plant has huge market value for having taste, medicinal and nutritional value. Yong chak plant has very similar features with those of conventional shade trees like fabaceae family, plant height, root characteristics, stem and branching characteristics, canopy architecture, leaf characteristics and shedding. Yong chak plant can be further studied for its competitiveness with tea for water and nutrients, nitrogen fixation, harbouring pests and diseases of tea.

Keywords: Yong chak, shade tree, tea industry, micro-propagation