Diversity of Bael (Aegle marmelos Corr.) in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh

Abstract

Bael is one of the important fruit trees grown in India since prehistoric times. Bael fruits, leaves and other parts of the plant are used as medicine. Besides medicinal uses, bael fruit has immense processing potential and can made into different fruit products, such as preserve, soft drinks. The central- east part of India has rich genetic diversity of bael. In order to collect the existing genetic diversity, an exploration was undertaken in parts of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh during 2003. A total of 17 genotypes of bael, having economically important horticultural traits were identified from the diverse gene pool spread over Gopalganj, Siwan and Chhapra districts of Bihar and Deoria districts of Uttar Pradesh. These genotypes showed variability in morphological and physico-chemical characters. The plant height varied from 4.8 - 19.0m, girth 0.25-1.50m,canopy spread in N-S 4.8 to 11. 50m and in E-W 3.1 -12.3m, thorns on the trees (least -more), tree age 11-102 years, number of fruits 40-500, yield 60-525 kg/tree. Among the fruit characteristics, fruit weight varied from 0.64-1.75 kg, fruit length 11.0 -24.5 cm, fruit breadth .6-25.5 cm, fruit shape round, oval, oblong and globose, number of seed sacs in fruit 8-15, skull thickness 0.20-0.40 cm, skull weight 10.0-40.0 g, TSS content 25.6-40.0 degree Brix and total sugar content 10.0-20.0 per cent among different accessions collected. On the basis of overall assessment, four promising genotypes have been identified as superior ones. The detailed data on morphological characters of tree, physico-chemical characters of the fruit and yield are presented in this paper.