Exploration and selection of elite Wild Aonla (Phyllanthus emblica L.) genotypes in the mountainous Tracts of West Garo Hills, Meghalaya

An experiment was conducted at Department of Horticulture, North-Eastern Hill University. Tura Campus to study the characterization local aonla genotypes using various physiochemical parameter for evaluating diversity and identifying potentially useful genotypes for future breeding programs and quality enhancement. In all the 40 genotypes collected, the maximum fruit length was observed in the genotype WGHA 21 (23.62mm) and maximum fruit diameter was observed in the genotype WGHA 16 (25.94mm). The heaviest fruit weight was recorded in the genotypes WGHA 16 (9.66g) while the fruit volume was reported highest in genotype WGHA 40 (3.40ml) and minimum was reported in genotype WGHA 2 (0.59ml). As per the recorded data pulp weight was recorded the maximum in the genotype WGHA 16 (8.34g). The genotype WGHA 33 (9.78mm) was found to have the thickest pulp. Significantly maximum pulp percent was observed in the genotype WGHA 39 (93.87%) and minimum was observed in the genotype WGHA 30 (69.65%). In case of stone weight, the heaviest was observed in the genotype WGHA 40 (1.47g). The qualitative character TSS reported in the genotypes WGHA 18 (20.27 °Brix) was found to be the highest. The acidity recorded the lowest was in the genotype WGHA 29 (0.51%) and the highest was observed in the genotype WGHA 39 (3.67%). Ascorbic acid content reported in the genotype WGHA 39 (841.48mg/100g) was the highest among all other genotypes while significantly highest amount of total sugar was observed in the genotype WGHA 9 (1.29%). Moreover, reducing sugar reported in genotype WGHA 4 (1.20%) was the highest and the lowest observed was in the genotype WGHA 28 (0.46%). In case of non-reducing sugar highest was observed in the genotype WGHA 9 (0.54%). Based on the study conducted the genotypes WGHA 4, 8, 9, 16, 18, 21,23, 26, 28, 31, 32, 33,35,38, 39 and 40 gave promising results in terms of physical and bio-chemical attributes and can be studied for further evaluation.