EVALUATION OF PHYSICO-CHEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF FRUITS OF DIFFERENT CULTIVARS OF AONLA (Emblica officinalis Gaertn) GROWN IN UTTARAKHAND, WESTERN HIMALAYA

Fresh fruit of different cultivars of Aonla viz. Kanchan, Chakaiya, Banarasi, Amrit, Neelam and NA-10 were evaluated for physico-chemical characteristics. Cultivar Banarasi exhibit maximum fruit weight (36.23 g) followed by NA-10 (31.54 g), whereas lowest fruit weight was recorded for the cultivar Kanchan (10.17 g). Pulp weight was also found maximum for the cultivar Banarasi (33.58 g) followed by NA-10 and Amrit with the values of 29.57 g and 26.73 g respectively. Average values for stone weight, stone length and width were also found maximum for Banarasi cultivar with the values 2.65 g, 1.66 cm and 1.49 cm respectively. Amrit has the highest number of seeds/stone (6 seeds/stone), whereas it was lowest for Neelam (4.1 seeds/stone). NA-10 has the highest pulp to stone ratio followed by Amrit. Kanchan has the lowest pulp to stone ratio. The stone colour was white brown for Kanchan, Amrit, Neelam and NA-10 while it was brown for Chakaiya and Banarasi. Pulp content (%) was found highest for the cultivar NA-10 (93.69%) followed by Amrit (93.03%) while it was lowest for cultivar Kanchan (88.07%). However, Kanchan exhibit maximum specific gravity (1.10 g/c3) followed by NA-10 (1.08 g/c3). Our results indicated that Emblica officinalis cultivars in studied area showed a significant diversity in relation to fruit weight, length and width, fruit colour, stone length and width, stone weight and number of seeds per stone.