Characterization of jamun ( Syzygium cumini Skeels) accessions for economic traits based on multivariate analysis

• Published in: European journal of horticultural science Vol. 90; no. 1
• Main Authors: Tripathi, Prakash Chandra, Sane, Anuradha, Ganesan, Karunakaran, Vadivel, Sankar, Kumar, Prakash, Chaturvedi, Kanupriya, Thimmarayappa, Ruchitha
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: CABI 07.04.2025
• Subjects: Breeding; characterization; jamun; morphological; seedless
• ISSN: 1611-4426; 1611-4434
• DOI: 10.1079/ejhs.2025.0003

Jamun, recognized for its substantial medicinal importance, stands as an underutilized minor fruit crop in India. Our study delved into the morphological variability of 21 distinct jamun genotypes sourced from Bangalore Rural, Shivamogga, and Chikmagaluru districts in Karnataka. Planted at the Indian Institute of Horticultural Research in Bengaluru, these genotypes underwent scrutiny for 19 quantitative and 15 qualitative characteristics. Notable variations emerged, particularly in the seed-to-pulp ratio, pulp weight, and fruit weight, emphasizing significant distinctions among the genotypes. Conversely, traits like leaf width, petiole length, leaf length, and pulp percentage showed minimal variation.The study highlighted the pivotal attribute of pulp percentage, ranging from 44.8% to 100%, with seedless varieties, specifically J13, J14, and J16, exhibiting the highest pulp percentage, and J18 the lowest. Additionally, the entire fruit weight, encompassing both pulp and seed, varied widely from 0.74 g (J14) to 15.41 g (J4). Correlations unveiled positive relationships between pulp weight and attributes like leaf length, tree spread, and seed width, while a negative correlation was observed with total soluble solids. Principal component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical clustering (Hclust) revealed substantial diversity among the genotypes, with the first five components contributing to 97.45% of the total variation. In conclusion, our study emphasizes the significant qualitative and quantitative variability among jamun genotypes, presenting promising prospects for selecting parental material in future breeding programmes. This diversity holds the potential for cultivating enhanced jamun varieties, further contributing to the improvement of this underexplored fruit crop.