Current Science

Pooja Bohra ¹, Ajit Arun Waman ¹, Debabrata Basantia ¹, Hidangmayum Lembisana Devi ², Ezekiel Reang ³

Affiliations
1 Division of Horticulture and Forestry, ICAR-Central Island Agricultural Research Institute, Port Blair 744 101, IN
2 ICAR Research Complex for North Eastern Hill Region, Tripura Centre, P.O. Lembucherra 799 210, IN
3 Department of Horticulture, College of Agriculture, P.O. Lembucherra 799 210, IN

Abstract

Blood fruit is a promising anti-oxidant rich underutilized fruit species with potential as a natural colourant for food, beverage and handicraft industries. The species has been used for fresh consumption, treating ailments and as a dyeing agent by local people including regional tribes in tropical Asian countries. However, at present, fruits are harvested from the wild and there is considerable scope for promoting their cultivation in homestead gardens. Owing to limited population of the species, seed germination studies were conducted. Treatment of seeds with thiourea (0.1%) or GA3 (1000 mg/l) for 24 h was most congenial for obtaining healthy seedlings in large numbers. To extract chlorophylls and total carotenoids, dimethylsulphoxide was found to be a superior solvent over acetone (80%). Differences in fruit sizes were noticed in fruits grown in two states of India. These findings form the basis for conservation as well as domestication of this multipurpose fruit species in the tropical Asian countries.

Keywords

Chlorophyll, Germination, Home Garden, Liana, Menispermaceae, Regeneration, Tropical Islands.

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Pooja Bohra ¹, Ajit Arun Waman ¹, B. A. Jerard ¹

Affiliations
1 Division of Horticulture and Forestry, ICAR-Central Island Agricultural Research Institute, Port Blair 744 105, IN

Abstract

Andaman and Nicobar (A&N) Islands in the Bay of Bengal are known to harbour 2426 species of angiosperms, of which about 300 are endemic to these islands¹. This diversity includes taxa of ecological and economic importance. The wealth of horticulturally useful species, including their wild relatives present in these Islands has been documented². However, new species having potential agricultural importance are being discovered and reported regularly as large areas of these islands are yet to be explored systematically³. Recently, a new endemic species of seeded wild banana, viz. Musa paramjitiana L.J. Singh has been reported from the Andaman Islands³, with observations on multiplication of species under field conditions. However, the threats posed by human interventions and damage by elephants have led to restricted distribution of the species in Andaman Islands and its categorization as ‘Critically Endangered’ species³. Under such conditions, assisted regeneration of species by raising nursery would be advantageous. Here, we studed the effect of seed treatments and substrates on germination and seedling growth parameters in the species for facilitating its conservation and further use in research.

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