Genetic variability in tamarind (Tamarindus indica L.) from south Gujarat

The studies were carried out in the districts of Dang, Navsari, Tapi, Valsad and adjoining areas in south Gujarat during 2010–11 to 2013–14 for identifying superior tamarind (Tamarindus indica L.) genotypes with desirable horticultural traits. A total of 12 genotypes having economically important horticultural traits were identified. These genotypes showed considerable variability in morphological and physico-chemical characters. The pod weight varied from 8.64 to 27.70g, pod length (8.64–17.76 cm), pod width (2.48–3.16 cm), number of seeds/pod (3.38–9.77) seed weight (2.02–8.33 g), pulp weight (4.10–15.77g), pulp (47–55%) and pod yield (47.44–248.8 kg/tree). The TSS (61.7–65.5⁰Brix), acidity (10–12%), vitamin C content (4.5–12.1mg/100 g pulp), reducing sugars (6–10.8%) and total sugar (14.4–29.9%), ranged in different germplasm accessions evaluated. On the basis of overall assessment, six tamarind genotypes, viz. T₁, T₂, T₅, T₁₀, T₁₁ and T₁₂ were selected as most promising and these might be used as superior trees for clonal multiplication.