Evaluation of different ber (Zizyphus mauritiana) germplasm under rainfed vertisols of Tamil Nadu, India

Underutilized waste lands of vertisols can be successfully utilized for cultivation of ber for which identification of suitable germplasm plays a significant role to achieve maximum returns. An experiment was conducted during 2017 to 2020 at Regional Research Station, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Aruppukottai under the dry vertisols of Tamil Nadu, India. This experiment was carried out under ICAR- All India Coordinated Research Project on Arid Zone Fruits (ICAR-AICRP-AZF). Twenty-six (26) ber genotypes were evaluated to assess the growth, yield and quality performances. Among the genotypes evaluated, the ber variety Kaithali (ZM-3) registered higher individual fruit weight (24.3 g), pulp weight (22.5 g), fruit yield per tree (18. 9 kg) and yield per ha (5.10 tonnes/ha). Next to Kaithali, Gola (ZM-4) recorded more individual fruit weight of 22.55 g, pulp weight of 20.46 g, Fruit yield per tree of 17.05 kg and fruit yield per ha of 4.6 tonnes. The variety Kakadia I (ZM8) showed reduced fruit yield per tree of 13.8 kg and fruit yield per ha of 3.7 tonnes. All genotypes recorded TSS values ranging from 10.3 to 16.2oBrix. Based on this it could be concluded that the ber germplasm Kaithali is suitable for dry vertisols tracts of Tamil Nadu to enhance the overall output for the farming community.