EVALUATION OF WILD AND CULTIVATED GERMPLASM OF Withania somnifera (L.) DUNAL (ASHWAGANDHA)
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Date
2013
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Birsa Agricultural University, Kanke, Ranchi, Jharkhand
Abstract
The present experiment entitled “Evaluation of Wild and Cultivated germplasm
of Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal (Ashwagandha)” was conducted during the year 2011
at nursery site of the Faculty of Forestry, Birsa Agricultural University, Kanke, Ranchi to
carry out systematic research trial on wild and cultivated trial of the species with the
objectives a) To evaluate the comparative growth pattern of wild and cultivated germ
plasm of Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera). b) To evaluate comparative yield potential
of wild and cultivated germplasm of Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) and c) To
evaluate the comparative alkaloid content of wild and cultivated germplasm of
Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera).
In the present study, the wild and cultivated germplasm of Withania somnifera (L.)
Dunal (Ashwagandha) are taken for experiment. The wild germplasm collected from
Khunti forest area and the cultivated germplasm are JA-20, JA–134, Poshita. The
experiment was conducted in Randomized Block Design (RBD) to know the growth and
yield parameters of different germplasm of the Ashwagandha. The experiment was
replicated five (5) times. The total numbers of treatments were four (4). The total area of
the plot was 4m X 3m and number of plant in each plot was 100. Number of plants to be
used for collection of data from each plot was ten (randomly). The growth parameters of
Ashwagandha like Plant height (cm), Number of main branches, Number of berries per
plant, Leaf length (cm), Days to flower initiation (days), Days to seed harvest (days), and
the yield parameters like Number of seeds per berry, Seed yield per plant (gm) are
recorded as per NBPGR format. The yield parameters of Ashwagandha like Main root
length (cm), Main root diameter (cm), Number of secondary roots per plant, Fresh root
weight per plant (gm), Dry root weight per plant (gm) were taken on final harvesting. The
alkaloid content (%) and Fiber content (%) in root are estimated through HPLC method in
the laboratory.
Average value of pH, organic carbon, available nitrogen, phosphorus, and
potassium of the soil of research area was estimated before plantation of Ashwagandha.
The recorded value of different chemical parameters of soil are as follows pH (6.80),
organic carbon (0.78), available nitrogen (345.25 kg/ha), available phosphorus (120.50
kg/ha) and available potash (252.60 kg/ha). The soil of the sites is sandy loam having
water holding capacity (%) as 40.50 and moisture content (%) as 10.82.
Maximum plant height among the germplasm was found in Poshita i.e. 98.00 cm
whereas minimum height obtained in wild variety i.e. 68.4 0cm. Number of primary
branches at full bloom stage varied from 4.00 to 5.00. Increasing order of the number of
main branches is as follows: T1<T2<T3<T4. Maximum number of berries per plant among
the germplasm was found in Poshita i.e. 137.40 whereas minimum number of berries per
plant obtained in wild variety i.e. 104.00. Maximum days to flower initiation and days to
seed harvest among the germplasm was found in Poshita. Maximum number of seeds per
berry among the germplasm was found in JA-134 i.e. 37.80 whereas the minimum number
of seeds per berry obtained in wild germplasm was 34.80.
Maximum main root diameter (mm) among the germplasm was found in Poshita
i.e. 21.26 mm whereas minimum main root diameter (mm) obtained in wild variety i.e.
13.00 mm. Number of secondary root per plant at harvesting stage varied from 2.04 to
5.32. Maximum fresh root weight per plant (gm) among the germplasm was found in
Poshita i.e. 38.84 gm whereas minimum fresh root weight per plant (gm) obtained in wild
germplasm i.e. 20.80 gm. Dry root weight per plant (gm) at harvesting stage varied from
6.84 gm to 12.88 gm. Out of four germplasm of Ashwagandha, maximum dry root weight
per plant (gm) was found in Poshita i.e. 12.88 gm whereas minimum dry root weight per
plant (gm) obtained in wild germplasm was 6.84 gm. Seed yield per plant (gm) varied
from 6.90 to 11.76. Increasing order of the seed yield per plant (gm) is as follows:
T1<T2<T3<T4.
The alkaloid content (%) in root varied from 0.20 % to 0.35 %. Maximum alkaloid
content (%) in root among the germplasm was found in JA- 134 whereas minimum
alkaloid content (%) in root obtained in wild germplasm. The fiber content (%) in root
varied from 18.76 % to 32.04 %. Maximum fiber content (%) in root among the
germplasm was found in JA–134 whereas minimum fiber content (%) in root obtained in
wild germplasm.
It is concluded that for the production of root and seed, Poshita variety may be
adopted for commercial cultivation under the edapho-climatic conditions of Jharkhand.
However from the active principles point of view, JA- 134 variety may be adopted,
because its recorded value was found significantly superior than other variety.
Description
EVALUATION OF WILD AND CULTIVATED GERMPLASM OF Withania somnifera (L.) DUNAL (ASHWAGANDHA)
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