Potential crop of north eastern Himalayan region of India: Evaluation of Perilla germplasm
Amit Kumar, M.A. Ansari, Avinash Pandey, C. Aochen, Subhash Babu, Anup Das and K.P. Mohapatra ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Umiam, Meghalaya, 793103 Email: amit4118@gmail.com
Perilla is a genus consisting of one major Asiatic species (Perilla frutescens) belongs to mint family (Lamiaceae). Perilla is an important underutilized oilseed crops and cultivated by tribal farmers in hilly ecosystem of North eastern region (NER) of India. The crop has high oil quality and plays an important role in nutritional security of resource poor tribal farmers. Perilla seeds are rich source of omega-3 essential fatty acid like alpha-linolenic acid (ALA). Seeds contain 35-54% oil along with high quality protein. Besides using as edible oils it has proven potentially useful in industrial purpose for making of paints, varnishes, linoleum, printing ink, etc. Biochemical profiling of Perilla identified several potential chemotypes such as apigenin, ascorbic-acid, beta-carotene, caffeic-acid, citral, dillapiol, elemicin, limonene, luteolin, myristicin, perillaldehyde, protocatechuic-acid, quercetin, rosmarinic-acid, perilla ketone, elsholzia ketone, isoegomaketone, naginata ketone, and safrole. Keeping in mind about the importance of this crop, twenty nine Perilla genotypes were collected from NER and evaluated at Upland farm of Plant Breeding in 2017 and 2018 to assess the genetic variation. Wide spectrum of variability observed for all 16 characters. Maximum oil content (47.89%) was observed in genotype IC- 0615390, while minimum (33.78%) in genotype IC- 0615367. The number of inflorescence per plant ranged from 16–206. A range of 4- 13 cm was observed among genotypes for the length of inflorescence. The results showed a significant content of zinc and iron. Manganese was also found in more quantity as compared to other oilseed crops which can help to assist the body in metabolizing protein and carbohydrates Data on Fe content (ppm) in seeds among genotypes varied from 3.8 to 74.5 whereas for Mn content (ppm) a range of 21.05-52.85 was observed. IC- 0615367 has shown highest Fe content. Accession IC- 0615390 can be used in future breeding programme for developing variety with high oil content. Accession IC- 0615382 being an early genotype, may be used in breeding for early variety in Perilla. Utilization of these lines in varietal development programme can lead to development of high yielding variety having high oil content, Fe and Mn content suitable for North East hill region for securing oil and nutritional security in tribal farmers as well as income generation.
Perilla crop grown in Upland farm of Plant Breeding
