Characterization and screening of candidate plus trees of Sapindus emarginatus Vahl. for saponin content

Abstract

Soapnut (Sapindus emarginatus Vahl.) is one of the most traded non timber forest product bioresource in Tamil Nadu. The dried fruit contains higher percentage of saponin, a substance rich in detergent properties. As a measure of sustainable consumption, soapnut harvesting in the wild should be minimized and compensated by agroforestry and industrial plants grown outside of the forests. To identify the superior source in terms of higher fruit yield and saponin percentage the germplasm was assembled and studies were undertaken at Forest College and Research Institute, Mettupalayam. A reconnaissance survey was carried out in Tamil Nadu to select Sapindus emarginatus Candidate Plus Trees (CPTs) based on the morphometric attributes of tree and fruiting output during peak fruiting season. Saponin content of selected Candidate Plus Trees were analysed and was found to range between 10.8-18.2%. Among the sources collected fruits collected from Kunjapanai-1 (TN SE 03) source recorded the highest saponin content (18.2%).