~ 256 ~ Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry 2017; 6(2): 256-260 E-ISSN: 2278-4136 P-ISSN: 2349-8234 JPP 2017; 6(2): 256-260 Received: 19-01-2017 Accepted: 20-02-2017 Vinod Kumar Kairon Department of Tree Improvement and Genetic Resources, College of Forestry Dr. Y.S Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni-Solan 173230, Himachal Pradesh, India HP Sankhyan Department of Tree Improvement and Genetic Resources, College of Forestry Dr. Y.S Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni-Solan 173230, Himachal Pradesh, India Sanjeev Thakur Department of Tree Improvement and Genetic Resources, College of Forestry Dr. Y.S Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni-Solan 173230, Himachal Pradesh, India Correspondence Vinod Kumar Kairon Department of Tree Improvement and Genetic Resources, College of Forestry Dr. Y.S Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni-Solan 173230, Himachal Pradesh, India Morphometric and chemical evaluation of seed oil traits of seabuckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L.) populations under different major gene pool areas of Spiti Valley of Himachal Pradesh Vinod Kumar Kairon, HP Sankhyan and Sanjeev Thakur Abstract A survey was conducted in cold desert of Spiti Valley, Himachal Pradesh to assess morphometric and chemical seed oil traits diversity of Hippophae rhamnoides population. Nine major gene pool areas and three growing conditions within major gene pool areas selected for the study showed wide variation among different morphological, biochemical and leaf proximate compositions traits. On the basis of results, eventually, it may be concluded that GPA-3(Sheigo) was superior than other major gene pool areas for morphometric traits and seed oil chemical traits among different major gene pool areas. Over all GC-3 (crop land) was found superior for all morphometric traits and seed oil chemical traits among different growing conditions among different major gene pool areas. For seed oil evaluation Maximum per cent seed oil (5.23) was recorded in GPA-3 (Sheigo) while minimum plant height (4.25) was recorded in GPA-9 (Hurling) gene pool area. On the other hand, Maximum per cent seed oil (4.91) was recorded for GC-3 (crop land) which shows significant variation among different growing conditions. Maximum acid value(4.77 mg KOH/g), saponification value (231.51 mg KOH/g), and iodine value (151.37 g I2/ 100 g) was recorded for GPA-3 (Sheigo) major gene pool area, and 4.91 mg KOH/g, 216.61 mg KOH/g and 146.37 g I2/ 100 g respectively for GC-3 (crop land) growing condition. Based on morphometric traits and seed oil chemical traits observations it was evident that large diversity exists in naturally growing populations of Hippophae rhamnoides in the Spiti Valley of Himachal Pradesh, and this morphological variation can be exploited for the further selection of suitable genotypes to accelerate the domestication process of this important species. Keywords: Seabuckthorn, Hippophae rhamnoides, morphometric traits, major gene pool areas, growing conditions, cold deserts and seed oil traits Introduction Seabuckthorn (Genus Hippophae) is a berry-bearing, hardy bush of the family Elaeagnaceae, naturally distributed in Asia and Europe and also introduced in North and South America. It includes four species viz., Hippophae rhamnoides, Hippophae salicifolia, Hippophae tibetana and Hippophae neurocarpa and nine subspecies of Hippophae rhamnoides which are reported so far from the World, of which, the most important species is Hippophae rhamnoides (Linn). It is a unique and valuable plant currently cultivated in various parts of the world. The natural habitat of Seabuckthorn extends widely in China, Mongolia, Russia, and most parts of North Europe. It can withstand extreme temperatures from -43ºC to +40ºC and is considered to be drought resistant. Hippophae, commonly called Seabuckthorn and locally known as Chharma, Sutz or Sarla, occupies an important position as a valuable bio resources in the cold desert of Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Uttarakhand, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh. It possesses outstanding qualities such as nitrogen fixing (60 to 180 kg/ha/yr), as soil binder, reduce top soil erosion by 30 per cent and retains soil moisture up to 80 per cent. A symbiotic michorhizal fungus, Frankia has been found from nodules and fixes maximum amount of nitrogen present in the atmosphere. Its capacity to fix nitrogen is twice than that of soybean (Rongsen, 1992) [10] . It has extraordinary capability to grow and survive under harsh environmental conditions, on problem soils, improve physical and chemical properties of soil and invades barren areas as pioneer species. Besides these, it is a rich sources of vitamins C, fodder and its fruits and seeds are source for food, cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries. Leaves are alternate, narrow and lanceolate, with a silver-gray colour. The male bud consists of four to six apetalous flowers, which produce wind-distributed pollen whereas, the female bud usually consists of one single apetalous flower with one ovary and one ovule.