Evaluation of Wood Apple Genotypes for Yield Traits under Tamil Nadu Condition

Abstract

Aim: Wood apple (Feronia limonia L.) is a hardy, indigenous fruit crop with significant nutritional and medicinal properties. Despite its adaptability to adverse agro-climatic conditions and its utility in traditional medicine and dryland horticulture, the species remains underexploited due to limited research on its genetic potential. This study aimed to evaluate the genetic variability in yield-related traits among selected wood apple genotypes to identify superior types for varietal development. Methodology: Field evaluation was carried out at the Department of Fruit Science, Horticultural College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU), Periyakulam, over five years (2019–2024). Nine genotypes (WFL-01 to WFL-09), selected from preliminary germplasm collections for their promising yield and quality traits, were assessed under a Randomized Block Design (RBD) with three replications. Morphological and yield-related parameters were recorded using standard procedures. Results: Significant variability was observed among genotypes for all measured traits. Fruit length ranged from 6.80 to 11.00 cm, fruit width 6.90 to 10.00 cm, and fruit weight 150.00 to 470.00 g. Pulp weight varied from 75.00 to 340.00 g, with seed count ranging from 170 to 620. Shell thickness was between 0.28 and 0.40 cm. Yield per tree varied notably from 33.00 to 150.40 kg, and projected yield ranged from 7.20 to 30.80 t ha⁻¹. Conclusion: Among the evaluated genotypes, WFL-03 demonstrated the highest performance across all yield attributes, followed closely by WFL-08 and WFL-04. The considerable variation observed suggests a high degree of genetic diversity, offering significant opportunities for selection and genetic improvement in wood apple. These findings hold practical relevance for commercial cultivation, breeding programs, and sustainable utilization of this underutilized fruit crop.