Determining maturity indices for time of seed collection in Gmelina arborea under Punjab conditions

In view of enormous potentiality of Gmelina arborea in afforestation, diversification of farm grown timbers like poplar and eucalypts and to meet the target of industrial demand along with achieving realization of its multiple uses the maturity indices for seed collection of G arborea under Punjab conditions were studied at the experimental area of Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, Punjab during March–June 2012. It was observed that the species started flowering during mid March to end of May and fruits started maturing from April onwards that continued well up to the end of June. During the study period color of fruits changed from green to black at various developmental stages. The fruits remained green till 10^th week after flowering and turned yellowish green, yellow and yellowish brown in the 11^th and 12^th, 13^th and 14^th weeks respectively. Maximum values for fruits static as well as for per cent germination were also observed during the11^th and 12^th, 13^th and 14^th weeks of fruit collection. It is observed from the present studies that fruits of G arborea should be collected when their color range is in between yellowish green to yellowish brown instead of taking time as a fixed parameter since the time of season may vary from year to year.