IMPACTS OF WINTER RAIN ON OLEORESIN PRODUCTION OF COMMIPHORA WIGHTII (ARNOTT.) BHANDARI IN CHAMBAL RAVINE, CENTRAL INDIA

K.C. MEENA¹*, MONI THOMAS^2
1Directorate of Research Services, Jawaharlal Nehru Krishi Vishwa Vidyalaya, Jabalpur 482004, MP
²Directorate of Research Services, Jawaharlal Nehru Krishi Vishwa Vidyalaya, Jabalpur 482004, MP
* Corresponding Author : drkailashmeena06@gmail.com

Received : 22-01-2016     Accepted : 13-03-2016     Published : 07-05-2016
Volume : 8     Issue : 15       Pages : 1271 - 1274
Int J Agr Sci 8.15 (2016):1271-1274

Keywords : Oleoresin, Metabolites, Guggul, Abiotic stress
Academic Editor : Ravi Singh Chouhan
Conflict of Interest : None declared
Acknowledgements/Funding : None declared
Author Contribution : None declared

Commiphora wightii (Arnott.) Bhandari is found in the semi arid and arid regions of India. Over exploitation of this species for its Oleoresin has led to its decline in their natural stand. During the guggul tapping season in the year 2013-14, the abiotic stress was less in comparison to that in the year 2012-13. Less abiotic stress due to winter rain on the guggul production in Chambal ravines. The mean production of guggul gum during the year 2012-13 was 385.30 g, while it was 145.59 g during 2013-14. Thus the mean gum production per plant declined by 62.61 percent during 2013-14, besides this the viscosity of the guggul gum was affected due to winter rain during 2013-14. Those plants tapped before rains produced comparatively more gum, similarly the proportion of tapped trees damaged was higher than those with untapped trees during the year. Gum production was positively correlated with temperature while rainfall was negatively correlated with other variables during both the year. Tapping of Guggul in ravines is carried out from last week of February to March, was delayed by one week during 2013-14. The delay was due to low temperature and high humidity during the tapping period.