LAUSR

Garcinia gummi-gutta, popularly known as Malabar tamarind or kodampuli is a tropical fruit tree species of high potential. Acidic fruits are used either in raw or pickled form. Fruit is highly prized for its anti-obesity property owing to high hydroxycitric acid content in its rind. Though generally cultivated for its fruits, the plant has multifaceted uses in paint manufacturing industry, as medicine, source of edible fat etc. The present study concerned comparative morphological and physicochemical analysis of two morphotypes of Malabar tamarind, which revealed significant differences among them. Fruits and leaves of these morphotypes had distinctive morphological features. A morphotype with higher rind recovery and fruit weight was identified for further crop improvement programmes. Further, dimethylsulphoxide was identified as better solvent for extraction of photosynthetic pigments, and hence could be recommended for future physiological studies.