PHYSIOLOGICAL AND BIOCHEMICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF PRICKLY PEAR ACCESSIONS 2880
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Date
2019-07
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JAU, JUNAGADH
Abstract
The present experiment “PHYSIOLOGICAL AND BIOCHEMICAL
CHARACTERIZATION OF PRICKLY PEAR ACCESSIONS” was conducted at
Department of Biochemistry, Junagadh Agricultural University, Junagadh with an
objective to examine the morphological, physiological and biochemical variation in
different Opuntia Spp.
In morphological observations, accession 1292 showed maximum plant
height (135.67 cm) and cladode length (40 cm) while accession 1300 showed highest
plant spread (126 cm) and cladode thickness (3.33 cm). The highest cladode width
and cladode weight was observed in accession 1270 (20.67 cm) and 1326 (903.10 g)
respectively. The least morphological observations were reported in accession 1269.
The highest moisture (94.49 %) and pH (5.01) were observed in accession
1258 while lowest moisture and pH were reported in accession 1288 (92.45 %) and
1326 (4.48) respectively. The highest ash and total chlorophyll content were observed
in accession 1281 (4.95 %) and 1292 (0.329 mg g-1
) respectively while least
chlorophyll content and ash was observed in accession 1269 (0.193 mg g-1
) and 1301
(1.53 %) respectively. The mineral estimation reveled that macro minerals such as
calcium (1.64-40.32 mg g-1
) and potassium (0.82-4.88 mg g-1
) were abundant in
cladodes and in micro minerals ferrous (71.40-349.27 µg g-1
), manganese (4.74-
116.63 µg g-1
), zinc (4.35-56.90 µg g-1
) and copper (5.52-16.94 µg g-1
) were found in good amount. The mucilage content in Opuntia cladode ranged from 1.21 to 11.07
mg g-1
. The highest mucilage was observed in wild Opuntia plant (11.07 mg g-1
)
while lowest mucilage content was observed in accession 1321 (1.21 mg g-1
). The
highest water and oil holding capacity of mucilage were recorded as 6.01 and 4.23 g
g
-1 in accession 1267 and 1315 respectively.
In biochemical characterizations highest true protein, total carbohydrates,
crude fat and crude fibre were observed in accession wild (3.66 mg g-1
), 1301 (23.38
mg g-1
), 1271 (3.67 %), and 1321 (26.65%) respectively. The accession 1320 had
highest phenol content (1.13 mg g-1
) while accession 1281 had highest ascorbic acid
(134.71 mg/ 100g) and maximum antioxidant activity was found in accession 1296
(16.27 %).
From the phenol profiling of one exotic (1320) and one local wild
accession ten phenolic compounds were identified. In accession 1320 eight phenolic
compounds were found with the highest content of chlorogenic acid followed by
catechol and syringic acid while in wild accession, nine phenolic compounds were
observed with the highest content of catechin followed by chlorogenic acid and
ferulic acid. The phenolic compounds namely reseveratrol, and salicylic acid were
present in wild and absent in accession 1320 while catechol was absent in wild
accession. In study of anti-nutritional factors, accession 1288 had highest saponin
while accession 1258 had highest phytic acid. The lowest saponin content was
observed in accession 1281 and lowest phytic acid observed in accession 1267.
On the basis of morphology, cladodes were classified into spiny and
spineless group in which spiny cladodes were superior for physiological characters
but biochemical characters were good in spineless. In anti-nutritional study, saponin
was more in spiny and phytic acid more in spineless accessions. The results based on
grouping of accessions for utility purpose showed that spineless fruit and spineless
fodder were superior for physiological as well as biochemical characters.
The results of this study reveal wide variability of the various parameters
amongst the Opuntia accessions. The presence of health promoting agents such as
crude fibre, micro and macro minerals, antioxidants viz. ascorbic acid, various
phenolics should ensure the utility of this plant as a fodder as well as vegetable in arid
and semi-arid regions of India.