Department of Horticulture, Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat, 785 013.
*Corresponding author's present address: College of Horticulture and Forestry, Central Agricultural Unjiversity, Pasighat, Arunachal Pradesh, 791102; E-mail: bnhazarika13@yahoo.com
Aonla is found scattered throughout Jorhat district of Assam. A survey was carried out to identify the elite genotypes among its natural population. The ripe fruit of 14 selected types were analyzed for physico-chemical traits like fruit weight, pulp weight, seed weight, volume, specific gravity, pulp:seed ratio, width of fruit and seed, TSS, acidity, ascorbic acid, reducing sugars and total sugars. The study reveals that there was a wide variation among its accessions. Individual fruit weight ranged from 3.24 to 10.18 g; pulp weight 2.83 to 9.41 g; seed weight 0.37 to 1.66 g; and pulp: seed ratio from 3.21 to 14.00. There was wide variation in chemical characters also. Total soluble solids varied from 12.0 to 19.0%; titrable acidity 2.29 to 4.61%; ascorbic acid 400 to 850 mg/100 g, reducing sugars 3.76 to 10.98%. Wide variation in physico-chemical analysis of genotypes indicated the scope of individual plant selection based on these characters for the genetic improvement of aonla.
Emblica officinalis, physico-chemical analysis, variability
