Vegetative propagation, biochemical and antioxidants characteristics of Antidesma bunius L. Spreng in eastern Himalayas, India

Introduction - Antidesma bunius L. Spreng is an important dietary and medicinal component edible fruit trees of the eastern Himalayas, India. However, the non-availability of quality planting materials and little information on biochemical and antioxidant properties of this species hinder its commercialisation. Therefore, a study was conducted to determine the biochemical and antioxidant properties of the fruits, and to find out a propagation technique for rapid multiplication and conservation of the fruit tree. Materials and methods - Ripened fruits were used for carrying out morphological, biochemical and antioxidant analysis. One-year-old healthy shoots were used to study the response of stem cuttings to different concentrations of Indole butyric acid (0, 1,000, 2,000 and 3,000 ppm). Results - Maximum fruit weight (198.05 +/- 0.14 mg), fruit yield (37.82 +/- 4.91 kg tree(-1)), total soluble solid (13.63 +/- 0.53 degrees Brix), total sugar (13.51 +/- 0.14%), crude fibre (6.64 +/- 0.07%), anthocyanin (421.76 mg C3GE 100 g(-1)), total flavonoid (3.76 mg QE 100 g(-1)), total phenolic content (140.17 mg GAE 100 g(-1)) and FRAP (10.34 +/- 0.16 mg AAE g(-1)) were recorded in genotype Umpowin. While titratable acidity (1.44 +/- 0.01%), vitamin C (28.28 mg 100 g(-1)) and total ash (13.11 +/- 0.33%) was highest in genotype Liarkhla. Stem cutting had maximum response at IBA 3,000 ppm which reduced the days to sprouting by 22.3% but increased the number of primary roots, root length, fresh weight roots and plant survival (78%). Conclusion - Fruits showed high biochemical and antioxidant properties which can be incorporated in dietary and as alternative sources of edible colour. Stem cutting using IBA 3,000 ppm can help in rapid multiplication and conservation of this fruit tree species.