Morpho-Physicochemical Studies Of Kusum (Schleichera Oleosa (Lour.) Oken): A Potential Multipurpose Tree Species

Abstract

Kusum (Schleichera oleosa (Lour.) Oken) belongs to Sapindaceae family, is an underutilised multipurpose tree species. Kusum is also known as a lac tree through its cultivation for lac which gives livelihood security to lakhs of farmers. Botanically, kusum fruits are single-seeded and sometimes two-seeded berry, succulent yellow aril, dry indehiscent, apex pointed, hard-crustaceous, smooth, or slightly spiny. Pulp of kusum has a potential source of antioxidant properties. The present investigation was carried out to estimate physical and chemical properties of kusum at the laboratory of department of Fruit Science, Faculty of Horticulture, at Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Mohanpur, Nadia, West Bengal during 2021-22. A set of 30 fruits with 10 fruits per replication were taken for this experiment. It was observed that average fruit weight (7.41g), fruit length (2.5cm), diameter (2.19cm), fruit volume (7ml), fruit pulp weight (2.93g), seed weight (1.35g), and peel weight (2.71g), seed length (1.69cm), diameter (1.38cm) and edible fruit percentage was 39.54%. The results showed that it contains an average of 20.07 °Brix total soluble solids, 0.33% titrable acidity, 14.28% total sugar, 8% reducing sugar, 5.96 non-reducing sugar, 142.5 mg/100g of pulp ascorbic acid and total carotenoid 1.35 mg/100g pulp. The result shows that kusum fruit is a promising food source with nutritional value. This fruit could fulfil the dietary needs of persons living in rural areas.