METHODOLOGY Myrica esculenta is an important wild edible tree species VARIATION IN SEED MATURATION IN MYRICA ESCULENTA OF WEST HIMALAYA, which provides nutritious fruits (Rawat et al., 2011) and used UTTARAKHAND ° ° Bhowali is located between 29.38 N and 79.52 E having an for fodder and fuel-wood (Dhyani et al., 1994). The altitude variation from 1600-1800 masl is selected for the A. Barola1*, A. Bahukhandi1 and A. Tiwari2 multipurpose nature of the plant has led to over harvesting, present study. The average rainfall and temperature of the hard seed coat, unavailability of mature seed, poor seedling ° 1G.B. Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment and Sustainable Development, Kosi-Katarmal, study area are 1487 mm and 34 C respectively. In the study establishment and negligence of sustainable utilization has Almora, Uttarakhand, India site, random vegetation sampling was conducted where 5 adversely affected regeneration in natural condition (Chen et 2D.S.B. Campus, Kumaun University Nainital, Uttarakhand, India quadrats (10X10) for trees were laid. Circumference at al., 2008; Shah et al., 2010; Jeeva et al., 2011). Previous Breast Height (cbh at1.37cm height from ground) measured studies indicated that the species generally propagated via *Correspondence: [email protected] for tree species. The quadrat data were pooled for calculation seeds but physical dormancy caused by impermeable seed of various quantitative measures such as density, frequency, coat results in unreliable germination pattern and vegetative ABSTRACT total basal area and Important Value Index (IVI) were made propagation with cutting also difficult (Bhatt et al., 2000). following (Misra 1968; Saxena et al., 1982). Furthermore, Few attempts such as pretreatments by prolonged warm plus Myrica esculenta is highly valuable wild edible fruit species of the Indian Himalayan Region (IHR). In the study, M. esculenta the fresh fruits were randomly harvested from the lower, cold stratification or by exogenous application of GA or by was recorded dominated species with (500 Indi/ha) tree density, (126.62 cm2) mean basal area, (6.33 m2/ha) total basal area 3 middle and higher altitude of the studied site at the intervals removal of endocarp and seed coat tissues was reported and (120.24) important value index, however, Q. leocotrichophora and R. arboreum was found lowest. Similarly, variation of seven days and brought into the laboratory for further was found in leaf area, fruit color, fruit size and seed maturation in the studied site. Present studies concluded that phenology increased seed germination significantly in Myrica rubra analysis of seed maturation (Fig. 1). Another physiological of seeds and a fruit varies in maturation periods. The present studies recommend that M. esculenta can be promoted by mass (Chen et al., 2008) and controlled micropropagation process parameter (i.e., color, size weight and moisture content) of plantation in different altitudinal range for the conservation of the biodiversity and also fruits can be utilized by the native for Myrica esculenta also helpful for producing large number fruits and seeds were also taken. communities for preparation of value-added products such as juice, jam, squash etc., which can contribute for the income of plants (Bhatt et al., 2004). In addition, researchers generation. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION reported that pre-sowing seed hydration technique is one of the effective approaches to improve germination and Keywords: Myrica esculenta, Indian Himalayan Region (IHR), Seed maturation, Fruit color, Uttarakhand, West Himalaya. In the study, five random (10mX10m) quadrates was seedling establishment (Purohit et al., 2009; Rehman et al., performed and reported M. esculenta was dominated species 2011). Also, strong positive correlation was reported between its unique medicinal and industrial uses and considered as a with (500 Indi/ha) tree density, (126.62 cm2) mean basal area, INTRODUCTION source of good fuel, fodder, medicine and oil (Singh et al., (6.33 m2/ha) total basal area and (120.24) important value Table 1. Change in leaf area over the study period 1986; Rastogi et al., 1991; Jeeva et al., 2011). However, index, however, Q. leocotrichophora and R. arboreum was Myrica esculenta Buch. Ham. ex D. Don (Family- Date Area Weight 2 Myricaceae), commonly known as “Kaphal” is highly anthropogenic pressure like grazing, browsing, looping of found lowest. The varied range of leaf area (15.8-34.2 cm ), 30 October 2013 15.8 0.14 8 November 2013 23.3 0.24 valuable wild edible fruit species (Rawat et al., 2011) and trees for fuel wood and fodder, fire, deforestation etc., weight (0.14-0.33 mg), mean tree height (2.98-4.81 m) and affecting the regeneration of a species. The rapid rise in 20 November 2013 24.8 0.26 distributed between 900-2100 m asl in the Indian Himalayan mean circumference of the tree (22.30-67.62 cm) was found 1 December 2013 31.3 0.33 human population depletion of forest cover is increasing Region (IHR) from Ravi eastwards to Assam, Khasi, Jaintia, in M. esculenta (Table 1). 13 December 2013 34.2 0.33 day by day. Therefore, conservation of biodiversity is Naga and Lushi Hills, and extending to Singapore, China and 20 December 2013 34.2 0.33 Japan (Bhatt et al., 2004). The wild fruit species are gaining becoming more important. Since seeds are the major component of such conservation programs, as the seed is a high attention as a food supplement and they are also the Table 2. Variation in morphological parameters in fruits and seeds of Myrica esculenta cheaper alternative to commercial fruits across the world reproductive unit which develops from an ovule, usually Si te Fruit Characteristics Seed Characteristics (Gusain et al., 2016; Bhatt et al., 2017). The species is a after fertilization and plays an essential role in regeneration Color of fruit Size Weight of Moisture Size Weight of Moisture and maintains genetic diversity (Justice 1972; Newton et al., (L*W) 30 fruits content (L*W) 30 fruits content medium sized, evergreen, dioecious wild tree occurred 2 2 2002). The quality of seed comprises on physiological mm (g) (%) mm (g) (%) mainly in Pinus roxburghii, Q. leucotrichophora (Dhyani et S1 (Lower Green 1.64±1.6 0 .464 47.14 0.20±0.1 0.20 1 20 .25 al., 1994). During the season, the demand of fruit either in the viability, the vigour of seed and their ability to produce elevation) Reddish-Green 3.49±1.8 1 .137 56.16 1.15±0.5 0.56 8 22 .16 form of processed or fresh form is very high which contribute healthy offspring (Copeland et al., 1999; Milosevic et al., Red 3.89±1.9 1 .906 56.75 1.45±0.7 0.95 3 23 .89 in the income generation of local populace of hilly regions 2010) and more mature seed is, the greater is its vigour and Dark-Red 4.05±0.7 2 .201 60.72 2.15±0.9 1.10 5 52 .15 S2 (Mid Green 2.29±0.4 0.686 49.15 1.14±0.5 0.343 23.70 potential to become an established as a seedling (Pollock et (Pandey et al., 1993; Bhatt et al., 2000). Fruits are an elevation) Reddish-Green 4.45±0.9 1.349 58.14 2.23±0.8 0.674 24.48 important source of natural antioxidants, vitamins, minerals al., 1972). In the above context, this study focused to Red 4.57±1.5 1 .869 61.13 2.49±2.1 0.93 4 26 .15 etc which can play a vital role in reducing the oxidative stress investigate vegetation parameters and to assess seed Dark-R ed 5.23±1.4 3 .152 63.85 3.11±1.9 1.57 6 57 .15 S3 (Higher Green 2.95±1.5 0 .987 49.75 1.62±0.8 0.49 3 23 .99 and preventing from certain degenerative diseases (Rawat et maturation time in Myrica esculenta from Kumuan, west elevation) Reddish-G reen 4.50±1.7 1 .792 58.90 2.52±0.9 0.89 6 26 .39 al., 2011; Bhatt et al., 2017). The species also recognized for Himalaya. Red 4.85±1.3 1 .909 61.25 2.89±0.7 0.95 3 44 .25 their nitrogen fixing capacity and invading nature, known for Dark-Red 6.85±1.9 4.242 66.77 3.92±0.5 2.121 57.85 62 ENVIS Centre on Himalayan Ecology ENVIS Bulletin Himalayan Ecology, Vol 25, 2017 63 METHODOLOGY Myrica esculenta is an important wild edible tree species VARIATION IN SEED MATURATION IN MYRICA ESCULENTA OF WEST HIMALAYA, which provides nutritious fruits (Rawat et al., 2011) and used UTTARAKHAND ° ° Bhowali is located between 29.38 N and 79.52 E having an for fodder and fuel-wood (Dhyani et al., 1994). The altitude variation from 1600-1800 masl is selected for the A. Barola1*, A. Bahukhandi1 and A. Tiwari2 multipurpose nature of the plant has led to over harvesting, present study. The average rainfall and temperature of the hard seed coat, unavailability of mature seed, poor seedling ° 1G.B. Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment and Sustainable Development, Kosi-Katarmal, study area are 1487 mm and 34 C respectively. In the study establishment and negligence of sustainable utilization has Almora, Uttarakhand, India site, random vegetation sampling was conducted where 5 adversely affected regeneration in natural condition (Chen et 2D.S.B. Campus, Kumaun University Nainital, Uttarakhand, India quadrats (10X10) for trees were laid. Circumference at al., 2008; Shah et al., 2010; Jeeva et al., 2011). Previous Breast Height (cbh at1.37cm height from ground) measured studies indicated that the species generally propagated via *Correspondence: [email protected] for tree species.