Abstract
An investigation was carried out on variations in the morphological traits ofTamarindus indicaLINN. fruits (length, breadth, mass, and pulp mass) and seeds (number and mass) from the different agroecological zones and land use types of Uganda. Fruits were collected from the two land use types in the three agroecological zones and measured for various morphological traits. The study sites were located between 593 and 1,096 meters above sea level. ANOVA was used to test the differences in morphological traits of fruits and seeds between agroecological zones and land use types. The morphological traits relationship was determined using Pearson Correlation Coefficient (R). There were significant (P≤0.05) variations among theT. indicafruits and seed morphological traits within the agroecological zones and land use types. Lake Victoria Crescent agroecological zone recorded higher fruits morphological traits values. Wild and on-farm land use types were superior in fruits and seed traits, respectively. Many seeds per fruit (17) were recorded in Uganda (Eastern agroecological zone) than those recorded elsewhere. Significant uphill positive linear correlations between all morphological traits (P≤0.05) were observed, with the strongest relationships being between seed mass and seed number (R=0.79), fruit mass and fruit length (R=0.75), pulp mass and fruit mass (R=0.73), and seed mass and fruit mass (R=0.73). However, fruit breadth presented slightly weaker positive linear correlations with all other morphological traits. This is the first quantitative evaluation ofT. indicamorphological traits variation in Uganda. Dispersion/variation and correlation relationships suggest that all the studied morphological traits can be used for selection of plus trees for tree breeding improvement such as yield per tree. The observed variations are probably attributed to influence of agroecological zones’ factors, environmental factors, climate, land use types, and farming systems, a reflection ofT. indicaadaptation to different conditions showing high genetic and phenotypic differences to be exploited.
Highlights
Tamarindus indica LINN. (Linnaeus 1753) is a fruit tree species that belongs to the Order FABALES, family FABACEAE syn
The results indicate that West Nile agroecological zone had the longest mean fruits of 12.48±2.9 but the maximum value (22.50 cm) was witnessed in the sample from Lake Victoria Crescent zone and higher mean seed numbers (6.53±2.8) with the maximum number (17) being recorded in eastern zone
All the fruit trait values were higher in the wild land use type compared to all seed traits that recorded higher values in on-farm land use type (Table 2)
Summary
Tamarindus indica LINN. (Linnaeus 1753) is a fruit tree species that belongs to the Order FABALES, family FABACEAE syn. The genus Tamarindus is monotypic, containing a single species, Tamarindus indica [1]. The T. indica tree is widespread throughout the tropics and subtropics. It originated from tropical Africa [2] and native to many tropical African countries including Uganda, where it naturally dominates six out of nine agroecological zones. The fruit tree is naturally widespread on-farms and in the wild habitats in the tropics [1] as well as in Uganda [3] and grows well over a wide range of soil and climatic conditions, ranging from low altitude woodland savanna of about 590 masl (lowest point in Uganda at Albert Nile) to high altitude Mt. Elgon ranges of above 2,000 masl [4]
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