Journal of Research

Five cultivars of aonla (Emblica officinalis Gaertn.) viz.,; Banarsi grafted, Banarsi seedling, Chakaiya, Francis and Kanchan were introduced and planted at Zonal Research Station for Kandi Area, Ballowal Saunkhri during the year 1985, to evaluate them for performance in the Shivalik foothills of Punjab. The tree vigour was observed in the order of Banarsi seedlings > Francis > Chakaiya > Kanchan > Banarsi grafted. The results (2000 to 2004) revealed that fruit yield (per tree) was recorded maximum in Chakaiya (88.6 kg) followed by Kanchan (46.1kg) and minimum in Banarsi grafted (5.3 kg). The maximum average fruit weight and fruit size were recorded in Francis and Chakaiya and the minimum in Banarsi seedling. Quality parameters i.e. TSS, Acidity and Vitamin C did not differ significantly, however maximum T.S.S. (11%) and Vitamin C (631.7 mg/100 g of pulp) content were recorded in variety Chakaiya while maximum acidity was found in Banarsi seedling (2.69%). The incidence of shoot gall maker was numerically higher, i.e., 21.67 galls/tree in the seedling than other cultivars.