ABSTRACT

Sapindus emarginatus is an important non-timber forest product (NTFP) tree species of central and southern states of India. S. emarginatus contains saponin and fatty oil content in its pericarp and seed respectively. In the present context of the study was focused on obtaining superior genotypes from selected seed sources and germplasm bank. Significant variation was recorded for fruit and seed morpho-chemical traits of different seed sources. (T5) Sagara source was found to be superior in fruit diameter (20.80 mm), 100 pericarp weight (145.50 g), saponin yield (19.81 %), seed diameter (12.10 mm), 100 kernel weight (94.40 g) and fatty oil content in kernel (23.57 %). Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (GCMS) profiling depicted that S. emarginatus kernel fatty oil sample contains unsaturated fatty acids share of 64.24 per cent and saturated fatty acid contribution of 32.54 per cent. Unsaturated fatty acids like, Oleic fatty acid and 2-Decenal suitable for biodiesel, found to be highest share of 43.46 per cent and 9.96 per cent respectively. Germination per cent (86.00 %), collar diameter (9.80 mm), number of leaves (42.40), plant dry weight (16.28 g) was maximum in (T5) Sagara source. Plant height (68.34 cm), root length (30.15 cm) was highest recorded in (T1) Athani source. The selection index was constructed using four important multi traits viz., pericarp saponin content per cent, seed kernel fatty oil content per cent, mean height of progenies at 12 months after transplanting and progeny vigour index, highest selection index score was achieved by (T5) Sagara source and followed by (T1) Athani source. Evaluation of germplasm bank Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka sources performed superior for all growth traits than other six sources in northern transition zone of Karnataka. Interaction of moisture conservation measures and organic fertilisers, fruit yield increments (11.90 %), soil moisture availability (31.45 %) and available nitrogen (164.65 kg/ha) was recorded maximum for main and subplot interaction treatments of M1*S2-conservation pit with vermicompost. It is anticipated that large-scale industrial demand for saponin and biodiesel feedstocks will enhance the economic well-being of forest workers and farmers by empowering them through the cultivation of high-yielding S. emarginatus genotypes, by fostering sustainable utilization of forest plant bio-resources