Pod grading and biometrics in Tamarind (Tamarindus indica) under different agro-climatic zones of Tamil Nadu, India

Pod grading and biometric study in Tamarind was carried out in five agro-climatic zones (Southern zone, Western zone, Cauvery delta zone, North-East zone and North-West zone) of Tamil Nadu for the identification of the best seed source for the production of tamarind pulp. The tamarind fruits were collected randomly from different agro-climatic zones and graded into one-seeded pods, two-seeded pods, three-seeded pods, four-seeded pods, five-seeded pods and more than five-seeded pods. In pod grading, maximum graded pods were observed in the trees of the North-Western zone (one-seeded pods-23 Nos., more than five-seeded pods-28 Nos.) and North-Eastern zone (two-seeded pods-22 Nos., three-seeded pods-24 Nos., five-seeded pods-14 Nos.) of Tamil Nadu. The pod biometric characters viz., pod length, pod width and pod shell thickness were studied for fruits collected from different agro-climatic zones. North-Western zone recorded highest pod biometric values in one-seeded pods, three-seeded pods and more than five-seeded pods. The trees of the Cauvery delta zone recorded maximum pod biometric values in two-seeded pods. Maximum pod biometric values were also documented in four-seeded pods and five-seeded pods in the Western zone. The present study revealed North-Western zone of Tamil Nadu as the best source for maximum tamarind pulp production as the trees in the region recorded maximum pod grading and biometric values