Selection of High Yielding Land Races of Seabuckthorn From Wild Seedling Population in Lahaul and Spiti District of Himachal Pradesh, India.

Abstract

A field study was undertaken during 2008-2011 to select high yielding land races of seabuckthorn from existing wild population of seedling origin in Lahaul and Spiti district of Himachal Pradesh. To select the superior land races intensive survey were carried in the district. Initially the selection of promising genotypes was made on the basis of some novel morphological and biochemical characters. The morphological characters like large fruit size, maximum fruit weight, yield per plant, less number of thorns per 10 cm shoot length, higher biomass yield and biochemical characters like higher Vitamin-C (mg/100 g), Oil content (%) and a-carotene mg /100 g were taken in consideration. The variation in fruit weight ranged from 10.23 g -36.56 g / 100 berries and yield from 0.20 kg-5.5 kg /plant. Among the different species found growing in the area H. salicifolia had maximum yield potential followed by H. rhamnoides and H. tibetana. In the beginning ten land races were selected on the basis of some superior morphological and chemical characteristics out of which three land races are finally identified and selected on the basis of correlation between morphological and biochemical characteristics for specific purpose. Out of these three land races one is H. salicifolia selection from Lahaul is a valuable specie which is high yielding (5.5 kg berries/ plant), large fruit size (36.56 g/ 100 berries) and richest in Vitamin C content and having less number of thorns. Another two land Races belongs to H. rhamnoides (one from Lahaul and one from Spiti valley) are rich in oil content which may be used for pharmacutical purposes.