Studies on Genetic diversity and selection of elite germplasm of local Tamarind from Mizoram, north-east India

Determination of genetic variation is important to the plant breeders for development of high yielding variety. Crop improvement is a complex process and these results from the interaction of a combination of factors. Such improvement can be achieved genetically, by developing resistant types, by devising improvement agronomic practices, by adapting to diverse environments and by correcting soil nutrient levels. Use of available genetic resources can be a major part of any crop improvement programme. The present investigation was carried out to identify the elite accessions of tamarind among its natural population from selected potential areas of Mizoram, north-east India. The ripe fruits were collected and analysed for physiochemical traits like pod weight, pod length, pod width, beak length, no. of ridges, no. of furrows, pulp weight, pulp percentage, shell weight, shell percentage, seed number, seed weight, seed percentage, moisture percentage, TSS, acidity, ascorbic acid, total sugars, reducing sugar, non-reducing sugar, sugar : acid ratio, TSS : acid ratio. The individual pod weight range from 17.57 - 32.17 g; pod length 104.03 -158.27 mm; pod width 22.13 - 36.22 mm; beak length 0.16 - 0.69 cm; no. of ridges 2.49 - 8.70; no. of furrows 1.45 - 7.77; pulp weight 6.50 - 20.27g; pulp percentage 35.23 - 62.85%; shell weight 3.07-5.82g; shell percentage 12.40 - 23.26%; seed number 5.13 - 8.87; seed weight 6.08 - 9.32g; seed percentage 19.23 - 42.03%; moisture percentage 17.57 - 26.87%; TSS 17.29 - 23.69%; acidity 6.55 - 11.50%; ascorbic acid 1.63 - 5.52 mg; total sugar 27.92 - 38.20%; reducing sugar 15.44 - 23.32%; non-reducing sugar 10.35 - 17.82%; sugar: acid ratio 2.55 - 4.83%; TSS: acid ratio 1.59 - 3.51%. The results revealed that among all the germplasm studied, MZU-HAMP-TS-29, MZU-HAMP-TS-23 and MZU-HAMP-TS-8 showed the overall superiority in all the parameters. Hence, MZU-HAM P-TS-29, MZU-HAM P-TS-23 and MZU-HAMP-TS-8 can be considered as elite tamarind accessions for use in future breeding programme.