Vol. 12, Special Issue 9 (2023)

Karonda (Carissa carandas L.) is one of the main underutilized fruits of Indian origin which is known for its wide adoptability and nutritional values. Twenty-nine accessions of karonda were evaluated at ICAR-IIHR-CHES, Chettalli to identify elite lines. The growth characteristic of 29 accessions of karonda revealed that the plant girth range from 17 to 93 cm it was the highest CHESK-V-9 (93 cm) and the lowest in CHESK-VIII-9 (17 cm). The height of the plant ranged from 1.75 to 3.70 m. It was the highest in CHESK-VI-9 (3.70 m). The accession CHESK-II-6, CHESK-II-7, CHESK-III-4, CHESK-VII-1 were found vigorous growth with plant height of more than 3 meter. The canopy spread was higher (> 7.5 m²) in CHESK-II-3 (8.10 m²), CHESK-II-6 (7.80 m²), CHESK-II-7 (8,61 m²), CHESK-V-5 (7.78 m²) and CHESK-VI-2 (9.65 m²). The higher plant volume was recorded in CHESK -VI-2 (23.37 m³), CHESK-V-9 (23.03 m³), CHEESK –II-7 (22.30 m³), CHESK-II-6 (20.55 m³). The number of fruits per plant were the highest in CHESK-III-4 (3145 fruits) and the lowest in CHESK II-5. The fruit yield was highest in CHESK-II-7 (21.18 kg/plant) followed by CHESK -V-6 (15.27 kg).The fruit weight ranged from 3.24 g to 3.81 g. The fruit colour of all the accession was dark purple at maturity. The pulp colour was varied from whitish pink, whitish red in most of the accessions but it was white colour in few accessions such as CHESK-II-VIII-7, CHESK-V-2, CHESK-II-5, CHESK-V-5, CHESK-V-10 and red in CHESK-IV-4 and CHESK-II-5. The fruit shape varied from round to oblong. The pulp content was the highest (91.03%) in CHESK-II-7. The seed content ranged from 2.05 to 12.81 percent. The total soluble solids ranged from 12.150 Brix (CHESK -VIII-1) to 17.05 0Brix (CHESK-V-4). The titrable acidity ranged from 0.67 to 3.29 percent. The ascorbic acid content range from 10.75mg/100g pulp (CHESK-VIII-1) to 50 mg /100g pulp in CHESK-VII-1. The reducing sugar ranged from 5.80 to 10.12 percent. The total sugar content ranged from 6.19 percent to 10.55 percent. The highest total sugar content was observed in CHESK-III-8 (10.55%). Over all the accessions, the accessions like K-II-7, K-V-6, K-VIII-1, K-VI-11, K-V-10 were found bigger in size coupled with sweetness with less seed content. These accessions may be used as table purpose while accessions like CHESK-II-6, CHESK III-8, CHESK V-2, CHESK VI-2 have smaller size fruit with higher number of fruits per plant. These identified accessions may be used for pickle making purpose.