Variation in seed morphology and selected oil parameters of neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss.) from different agroclimatic zones in Tamil Nadu, India

A.  Mayavel; S. Krishnan; R. Abinaya; S. Esakkiammal; R.R.  Warrier

doi:10.3989/gya.0221221

Authors

A. Mayavel Institute of Forest Genetics and Tree Breeding https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1247-2390
S. Krishnan Institute of Forest Genetics and Tree Breeding https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8540-7691
R. Abinaya Institute of Forest Genetics and Tree Breeding https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0261-2038
S. Esakkiammal Institute of Forest Genetics and Tree Breeding https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9429-3155
R.R. Warrier Institute of Forest Genetics and Tree Breeding https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7149-2925

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3989/gya.0221221

Keywords:

Oil quality, Physical traits, Physicochemical properties, Variability

Abstract

Tamil Nadu, in southern India, has the second-largest number of neem trees in the country. The oil from the seeds has high economic significance for cottage industries in the region. This paper examines 28 Candidate Plus Trees (CPTs) selected from six agroclimatic zones in Tamil Nadu which exhibit exceptional traits such as superior growth and other desirable characteristics. We aimed to understand seed morphology variations and physicochemical properties in the oil across different regions. Significant differences were observed for morphometric traits. Fruit production correlated negatively with rainfall. 100-seed kernel weight and seed length correlated with oil percentage. Rainfall influenced seed breadth and pericarp weight. Clustering using morphological characters did not group genotypes from the same region; while soil type could distinguish them. Correlation helped us determine the prominent features which influence the traits of interest, which can be useful for breeding programs, cultivation practices, and the development of neem-based products in Tamil Nadu and beyond.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Adigwe O, Ibrahim J, Adamu A, Okhale S, Elias A, Egharevba H. 2022. Chemometric analysis of volatile compounds of NIPRINEEM oil and other brands of neem seed oils sold in Nigeria. J. Biophys. Chem. 13, 1-12. https://doi.org/10.4236/jbpc.2022.131001

American Oil Chemists' Society (AOCS). 1997. Official methods and recommended practices of the AOCS. 5th edition, Illinois.

Association of Official Analytical Chemists (AOAC). 2007. Official Methods of Analysis, 18th edition. Gaithersburg, Maryland, USA.

ASAE. 1998. "ASAE 5410.1 DEC 97. Moisture Measurement of Peanut". In: ASAE Standards 1998. 45th edition. 560-561. ASAE, the Society for Engineering in Agricultural, Food, and Biological Systems: St. Joseph, MI.

ASTM. 2003. Test Method for Engler Specific Viscosity of Tar Products - D1665-98. American Society for Testing and Materials.

Atabani AE, Silitonga AS, Ong HC, Mahlia TM, Masjuki HH, Badruddin IA, Fayaz H. 2013. Non-edible vegetable oils: A critical evaluation of oil extraction, fatty acid compositions, biodiesel production, characteristics, engine performance and emissions production. Renew. Sust. Energ. Rev. 18, 211-245. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2012.10.013

Cox HE, Pearson D. 1962. The chemical analysis of foods chemical publishing Co. Inc., New York, pp. 420- 421.

Devaranavadagi SB, Sajjan AS, Kulakarni VN, Wali SY, Jambagi MB. 2003. Comparison of the oil and azadirachtin content of neem seed kernel from different ecotypes. Karnataka J. Agric. Sci. 16 (4), 624-625.

District Statistics, TN (2020). Statistical Hand Book 2020. Department of Economics and Statistics. Government of Tamil Nadu. https://www.tn.gov.in/deptst/

Do DN, Pham HD, Le XT, Le MT, Nguyen NP, Bui QM, Luu XC. 2022. Mechanical Extraction of Neem Seed Kernel (Azadirachta indica A. Juss.) Harvesting in Ninh Thuan, Viet Nam by Using Hydraulic Pressing: Effect of Processing Parameters. Mat. Sci. Forum 1048, 437-444. https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/MSF.1048.437

Eriksson O. 1999. Seed size variation and its effect on germination and seedling performance in the clonal herb Canvallaria majalis. Acta Oecol 20, 61-66. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1146-609X(99)80016-2

Fernandes SR, Barreiros L, Oliveira RF, Cruz A, Prudêncio C, Oliveira AI, Pinho C, Santos N, Morgado J. 2019. Chemistry, bioactivities, extraction and analysis of azadirachtin: State-of-the-art. Fitoterapia 134, 141-150. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fitote.2019.02.006 PMid:30738093

Forest Survey of India (FSI). 2019. India State Forest Report, Ministry of Environment, Forest and climate change (MoEFCC), Dehradun, India.

Gupta VK, Ahlawat SP, Kumar RV, Datta A. 2012. Relationship analysis among growth, fruits and biochemical characters in neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss.). Indian J. Agrofor. 14 (1), 34-38.

Hussein JB, Ilesanmi JO, Yahuza HA, Nkama I. 2021. Effect of Extraction Methods and Storage Time on the Yield and Qualities of Neem Seed (Azadirachta indica A. Juss) Oil. Niger. J. Technol. Dev. 18 (1), 55-62. https://doi.org/10.4314/njtd.v18i1.8

Jessinta S, Azhari HN, Saiful NT, Abdurahman HN. 2014. Impact of geographic variation on physicochemical properties of neem (Azadirachta indica) seed oil. Int J Pharm Sci Res . 5(10), 4406-4413.

Jindal SK, Vir S, Pancholy A. 1999. Variability and associations for seed yield, oil content and tree morphological traits in neem (Azadirachta indica). J. Trop. For. Sci. 11 (1), 320-322. http://www.jstor.org/stable/43582532

Kaura SK, Gupta SK, Chowdhury JB. 1998. Morphological and oil content variation in seeds of Azadirachta indica A. Juss. (Neem) from northern and western provenances of India. Plant Foods Hum Nutr. 52 (4), 293-298. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1008013424150 PMid:10426116

Kaushik N, Singh BG, Tomar UK, Naik SN, Vir S, Bisla SS, Sharma KK, Banerjee SK, Thakkar P. 2007. Regional and habitat variability in azadirachtin content of Indian neem (Azadirachta indica A. Jusieu). Curr. Sci. 92 (10), 1400-1406.

Kolawole OS, Abdulrahaman AA, Chukwuma EC, Jimoh MA. 2021. A numerical approach to the taxonomy of some species of the Subtribe Cassiinae in Nigeria. Webbia 76 (1), 97-108. https://doi.org/10.36253/jopt-10036

Kolawole OS, Abdulrahaman AA, Jimoh MA, Oladele FA. 2016. Morphometric study of several species of the genus Jatropha Linn. (Euphorbiaceae). Not. Sci. Biol. 8 (2), 211-215. https://doi.org/10.15835/nsb829768

Kumaran K, Surendran C, Rai RS. 1993. Variation studies in heritable components of seed parameters in neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss.). World Neem Conference, India, pp. 167-172.

Kundu SK, Tigerstedt PMA. 1997. Geographic variation in seed and seedling traits of neem (Azadirachta indica) among 10 populations studied in growth chamber. Silvae Genet. 46 (2-3), 129-137.

Kundu SK, Tigerstedt PMA. 1998. Variation in net photosynthesis, stomatal characteristics, leaf area and whole-plant phytomass production among ten provenances of neem (Azadirachta indica). Tree Physiol. 19, 47-52. https://doi.org/10.1093/treephys/19.1.47 PMid:12651331

Oomah BD, Ladet S, Godfrey DV, Liang J, Girard B. 2000. Characteristics of raspberry (Rubus idaeus L.) seed oil. Food Chem. 69 (2), 187-193. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0308-8146(99)00260-5

Pattnaik SJ, Raghupati Rao ND, Chary P. 2006. Ecomorphometric markers reflect variations in azadirachtin content of Azadirachta indica A. Juss. (Meliaceae) in select regions of Andhra Pradesh, India. Curr. Sci. 91, 628-636.

Sidhu OP, Kumar V, Behl AM. 2003. Variability in neem (Azadirachta indica) with respect to azadirachtin content. Agri. Food Chem. 51, 910-915. https://doi.org/10.1021/jf025994m PMid:12568548

Sridharan S, Venugopal MS, Dhaliwal GS, Arora R, Randhawa NS, Dhawan AK. 1998. Effect of environmental conditions on the yield of azadirachtin and oil in neem. Ecol. Agric. Sustain. Dev. 1, 510-518.

Tomar UK, Singh G, Kaushik N. 2011. Screening Azadirachta indica tree for enhancing azadirachtin and oil contents in dry areas of Gujarat, India. J. For. Res. 22 (2), 217-224. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11676-011-0153-0

Vollmann J, Moritz T, Kargl C, Baumgartner S, Wagentrist H. 2007 Agronomic evaluation of camelina genotypes selected for seed quality characteristics. Ind. Crops Prod. 26 (3), 270-277. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indcrop.2007.03.017