Multivariate diversity analysis of tamarind (Tamarindus indica L.) genotypes arid condition of western Maharashtra

To estimate the variability among tamarind genotypes for different tree growth, flowering and fruiting parameters and to identify the potential genotypes with promising attributes, the present investigation was carried out under the arid conditions of Nashik Division of Western Maharashtra. All the reddish-brown pulp genotypes indicated reddish-brown flush colour and most of the brown pulp genotypes for the green colour flush. Most precocious flowering was in the genotype RHRTG 1 and RHRTG 9 and the most late in RHRTG 7. Minimum numbers of days taken to ripening were noted in RHRTG 13 (240 days) and RHRTG 16 (245 days), while the genotype RHRTG 1 (258 days), RHRTG 5 (258 days) and RHRTG 4 (260 days) obtained the maximum days. The major contributing trait for the diversity in the principal component one (PC1) was pulp per cent (0.333) followed by pulp weight (0.302) and pod breadth (0.251) while, in the PC2, the highest positive loading was obtained from seed weight (0.355), pod weight (0.319) and shell weight (0.315). Genotypes identified as promising in the investigation may prove to be potential genetic resource in tamarind improvement programme.