Diversity in tree and fruit traits of wood apple (Limonia acidissima L.) genetic resources collected from south India

Abstract Wood apple (Limonia acidissima L.) is an undomesticated nutritionally and medicinally potential monotypic tree species of the genus Limonia, which belongs to the family Rutaceae. This species is remained underexploited due to a lack of awareness regarding its significance and systematic study of its diversity. The present work was carried out to recognize the elite populations for future cultivation among the studied populations of South India. Considering a wide genetic diversity in wood apples, 32 populations were assessed by the prepared set of qualitative and quantitative traits presented in this study. The tree height ranges between 7.68 to 16.69 m, canopy area was 18.78 to 36.36 m3 whereas, the weight of the fruits ranges between 118.30 to 233.42 g, the percentage composition of pulp was 53.91 to 72.93% and the percentage composition of seed was 4.02 to 9.07%. The tree with medium height with an average of 11.13 m and having average stem girth of 2.62 m showed large-sized fruits with an average weight of 233.43 g and an average percentage of 65.04% of pulp (TN-03). The obtained results were subjected to multivariate statistical analysis, using the techniques of principal component analysis and cluster analysis, and were formed into 4 clusters. The formation of different clusters shows the genetic variability and the dissimilarity among the genotypes which could guide the selection of elite genotypes to enrich the programs of genetic improvement of the wood apple. Out of 4 cluster groups, cluster 1 and cluster 2 could be used for domestication programs because they showed superior fruit-related traits by having the highest fruit, pulp, and seed weight even though they have average morphology of trees.