Morphometric variability in Cordia gharaf collections from Jaisalmer, western Rajasthan

Abstract

Cordia gharaf Forsk. locally called as ‘Goondi’, is an under-utilized multipurpose woody perennial species of hot arid zone. It is well adapted to soil moisture stress, desiccated winds and high ambient temperature due to its morpho-physiological characteristics. Its ripe fruits are eaten fresh and also dried for future consumption. It is also used traditionally as herbal medicine as well as fodder/ browse material. Twelve collections were made across Jaisalmer district covering diverse habitats and found existence in two forms viz., tree form in arable lands/plantation and shruby form in rangelands. The species generally flowers during March-April and fruiting occurs in May-June. However, flowering and fruiting observed in July and August under rangeland condition. Its ripe fruits showed round to ovoid shape and orange to reddish brown colour. Fruit/ seed characters studied at laboratory and seedlings raised in poly-bags for germination and morpho-metric study at nursery in ICAR-CAZRI, RRS, Jaisalmer during the year, 2015. Range and mean values of fruit and seed characters are: fruit length (9.63 to 11.84 and 10.62 mm), fruit diameter (9.13 to 10.71 and 9.87 mm), seed length (7.35 to 8.41 and 7.85 mm), seed width (4.28 to 4.92 and 4.64 mm), 100-seed weight (HSW) (5.77 to 7.33 and 6.59 g) and juice recovery (23.41 to 37.38 and 30.52 %). Among these, HSW showed highly significant positive and negative correlation with fruit diameter (0.94) and juice recovery percentage (-0.93), respectively. Among collections, Badabagh (CAZJCG-1) and Dangri (CAZJCG-7) collections showed maximum (46%) and minimum (17 %) seed germination. Badabagh collection also showed high seedling vigour indices (2538 and 118) on basis of seedling length and dry weight, respectively. Range and mean values of morpho-metric parameters of the seedlings are: seedling height (56.44 to 87.18 and 63.23 cm), collar diameter (6.2 to 8.68 and 6.91 mm), number of branches (9.38 to 17.43 and 12.66) and and shoot dry weight (26.76 to 38.36 and 31.02 g) after 120 days of swing. Maximum shoot length (87.18 cm), collar diameter (8.68 mm) and shoot dry weight (38.36 g) was recorded in Badabagh collection. This study revealed that Badabagh collection (CAZJCG-1) performed better with respect to seed germination and seedling growth parameters