Conservation, Multiplication and Utilization of Wood Apple (Feronia limonia) - a Semi-Wild Fruit Crop in West Bengal (India)

摘要

Considering the wide gene diversity in wood apple, an extensive survey was made and seven accessions have been collected. The age of the plants varied between 13 and 70 years with yield potentiality in mother plants varied from 650 to 1085 kg/plant. The fruit weight ranges between 130 to 225 g, pulp percentage was 42.9 to 60.6%, T.S.S. ranges between 15.0 and 18.4 °Brix, acidity 1.7 to 4.6% and total sugar content varied between 5.1 and 14.3%. To multiply the elite mother plants for commercial multiplication, a propagation trial was conducted for 2 successive years. The results indicate grafting was the better as compared to budding and 85 to 95% success in grafting was recorded when operation was performed in September. For processing fruit pulp, wood apple - squash was prepared using xanthan gum and red chili powder. The product could be stored for 150 days in an acceptable condition. The wood apple squash with 15% TSS, 1% acidity, 35% pulp and 0.35% xanthan gum scored the highest for overall acceptability.