Unveiling the tamarind (Tamarindus indica L.) diversity of Kerala’s central mid land plains: a unique ecosystem

Tamarindus indica L. is a promising crop for arid and semi-arid regions. This study assessed the variability of tamarind populations in the hot and humid tropical ecosystem of Kerala, India, for conservation and breeding purposes during 2017–19. The maximum pod length of 19.22 cm and fruit weight of 26.60 g (range 8–54 g), with considerable variation in acidity (7.79–21.94%), TSS (55–70°B) and Vitamin-C (11.17 mg to 18.91 mg per 100 g) was noticed in the population. The correlation and regression analysis identified corolla spread as a new potential marker trait for selecting higher pulp weight types. The study has elucidated two elite breeding lines with better horticultural traits for higher fruit yield.