Morphometric diversity and fruit-seed variability among natural populations of Ximenia americana L. in Amrabad Tiger Reserve, Telangana

Abstract

The present study examined quantitative and physical characteristics of Ximenia americana L. fruits and seeds, based on morphological characteristics, peel and pulp characteristics and colour parameters. Data on fruit weight, length, equatorial, polar, apical, and basal diameters of fruits, seeds, peel thickness, mesocarp thickness and weight, endocarp (pit) weight and thickness, peel weight, and fruit peel and pulp colour were collected and analyzed using the statistical package of the Statistical Package and Data Making (SPSS) version 20.0 using the descriptive form of statistics. The arithmetic mean, range, standard deviation, variance, standard error, skewness, and kurtosis were calculated to determine patterns of variation and variable distributions. The outcomes showed that the mean fruit weight was 9.66 grams with weight range of 8.69 to 11.22 grams, mean peel and pulp weight were 4.80 and 1.71 grams, respectively. Pit and seed weights were found to be average of 0.46g and 1.21g, proofing morphological diversity of significance to conservation and selection strategies. Fruit length ranged from 23.42 mm to 25.88 mm and the thickness of mesocarp ranged from 2.84 mm to 5.12 mm. Diameters at the equator, pole, base and apex of fruits were 22.69 mm, 22.77 mm, 19.40 mm and 19.61 mm on average, which indicated that the fruits were near round in shape, however the seed dimensions indicated that the fruits were oblong in shape. Colour analysis showed that fruit pulp was recorded higher L (lightness) values (55.68) than peel (53.56) with positive a and b* values showing red-yellow chromaticity. Pulp colour was darker yellow-orange than peel, explained as carotenoid and flavonoid content and the chloroplast into the chromoplast transformation during ripening. Skewness and kurtosis analyses indicated both positively and negatively skewed distributions with tails lighter than normal distributions indicating variability of traits. The study provides evidence of important morphological and colour variation in Ximenia americana and presents useful basic information for fruit quality evaluation, conservation planning and breeding programmes. These results are strengthening the role of geographical and environmental effects on fruits and seeds.