VARIABILITY STUDIES ON Quercus floribunda Lindl. (MORU OAK) POPULATIONS IN HIMACHAL PRADESH
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Date
2022-09
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UHF,NAUNI
Abstract
ABSTRACT
The present research entitled “Variability Studies on Quercus floribunda Lindl. (Moru Oak)
Populations in Himachal Pradesh” was undertaken in the natural forest conditions as well as in the
laboratory of Department of Tree Improvement and Genetic Resources, Dr. Y.S. Parmar University of
Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan (H.P.) during the years 2020-22, with the objectives of selecting
the best site and diameter class within each site in terms of morphometric traits of trees as well as
evaluation of physico-chemical characteristics of fatty oil from acorns and nutritional value of the deoiled
cake in order to know about their potential utility. The findings of the study revealed that for morphometric
traits, significant variation was observed among the nine study sites for the traits of tree height, diameter at
breast height, clean bole height, crown length, crown width, number of primary branches, leaf width and
leaf area. The only trait exhibiting non-significant variation among the sites was leaf length. Significant
variation was also observed between the two diameter classes for the traits of tree height, diameter at breast
height, clean bole height, crown length, crown width and leaf width. In case of physico-chemical
characteristics of fatty oil from acorns and deoiled cake (residual mass after oil extraction), significant
variation was found to be exhibited by the characteristics such as per cent oil content, protein content,
starch content and total sugar content. Between the two diameter classes, significant variation was
observed for percentage of seeds to acorns, per cent oil content, acid value, iodine value, protein content,
starch content and total sugar content. Overall, the site S8 (Jalori Jot, Kullu), found in the altitudinal range
of 2801-3200 m. was recorded to excel for most of the morphometric traits taken into consideration for the
study and site S7 (Kharapathar, Shimla) was observed to be at par with S8. Simultaneously, the diameter
class D2 (51-80 cm) was found to show higher performance than D1 (20-50 cm) for all the morphometric
traits as well as physico-chemical characteristics selected for the study. The highest oil yield was recorded
at site S7 (Kharapathar, Shimla), found at an altitudinal range of 2801-3200 m. Although, the oil content in
acorns was found to be in moderate quantity but was found suitable for soap preparations as well as for
edible purpose. The deoiled cake containing low protein and total sugar content but high starch content
was found suitable for use as a poultry feed.