Monitoring the growth of fruit and seed of Nyctanthes arbor-tristis L. under subtropical conditions

Abstract

Nyctanthes arbor-tristis Linn is an ornamental and medicinal plant utilised traditionally in India. The seeds of N. arbor-tristis were reported to contain immense pharmaceutical value due to the presence of essential oils and iridoid glycosides and hence it is essential to know its right stage of maturity. The morphological analysis of the fruit and seed was done to assess the different stages of maturity. At maturity, the average fruit length and breadth were 21.3±0.45 mm and 16.7±0.13 mm respectively. The average seed length and breadth were 12.8±0.05 mm and 7.78±0.08 mm respectively. The average fruit weight at 1 DAF and 90 DAF were 1.5±0.49 mg and 424.4±0.76 mg respectively. The average seed weight at 20 DAF and 90 DAF were 14.4±0.25 mg and 105.7±1.35 mg respectively. The seed set in the fruits were observed 20 days after flowering and the seed maturity was attained three to four months after flowering under Coimbatore climatic conditions. The data on morphological changes in the fruit and seed can aid in obtaining the fruit and seed at right stage of maturity for obtaining the desired bioactive compounds. Future work can be directed towards the assessment of chemical composition of the fruit and seed at different stages of maturity.