419 Genetic Variability Studies in Barhal (Artocarpus lakoocha Roxb.) in Central Uttar Pradesh D.H. Dwivedi, V. Mishra and N. Singh Department of Applied Plant Sciences Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University Lucknow (U.P.) India S.K. Dwivedi Department of Postharvest Technology Dr. Y.S. Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry Nauni, Solan (H.P.) India Keywords: lakoocha, variability, underutilized Abstract Barhal (Artocarpus lakoocha Roxb.) is a large, deciduous, underutilized fruit tree native to Sub Himalayan region used by rural folk as medicine for skin ailments, boils, as purgative and its high carotenoid content is beneficial as antioxidant. Fruits/male flowers are used for culinary purpose. Unripe fruits with seeds are used in pickles and vinegar. Ripe fruits are used for making ‘halwa’ and ‘jellies’. Leaves are used as fodder for lactating animals. 23 genotypes having desirable traits were collected from 17 different villages of Kasia Block and physico- chemical analysis of fruits following standard procedures was done. Vegetative and fruit physico-chemical parameters studied showed considerable variation viz., height of tree (4.80-14.80 m), canopy spread (4.93-12.5 m), trunk cross section area (0.01- 0.38 m 2 ); leaf length (18.13-27.30 cm), leaf breadth (9.58-16.38 cm), petiole length (1.90-3.43 cm), internodal distance (1.83-3.50 cm), fruit length (3.31-7.51 cm), fruit breadth (4.23-7.32 cm), fruit weight (51.0-210.33 g) and fruit volume (47.33- 204.33 ml), specific gravity (0.99-1.08), pulp weight (26.0-156.33 g) peel weight (6.67- 25.0 g), pulp:peel ratio (2.33-9.39), number of flakes/fruit (6.67-29), core length (1.10-2.63 cm), core diameter (0.83-2.30 cm), no. of seeds/fruit (5.0-25.0), seed length (0.80-1.57 cm), weight of seeds/fruit (3.3-19.66 g), seed breadth (0.80-1.47 cm), total soluble solids (13.2-22.36°B) and acidity (0.77-2.67%). INTRODUCTION Barhal (Artocarpus lakoocha Roxb.) popularly known as “monkey jack”, “lakuchi” or “lakoocha” (Hindi) native of the humid sub-Himalayan regions of India where it grows up to 1200 m altitude, is an underutilized fruit tree of the family Moraceae. It is a multipurpose tree of warm climate and is used for wood, timber, fodder and fruits (Joshee et al., 2001) but its use is restricted to remote, rural areas in particular regions only. Variability has been observed in respect of fruit shape, colour, shape and size of leaves and other characteristics (Majumdar, 2004) and variability in fruit weight, fruit growth, number of seeds/fruit, TSS and acidity in barhal has been observed by many workers (Majumdar, 2004; Shukla et al., 2008). However, the tree population of barhal is gradually decreasing due to poor seed viability and intensive exploitation for food, timber and other uses (Napier and Robins, 1989) and thus, systematic studies to document variability in its germplasm for its conservation become imperative. The ethnobotanic uses of barhal are many (Joshee et al., 2001; Joker and Adhikari, 2003; Majumdar, 2004): 1. Wood is used for fuel and as timber. Milky latex of tree is used in curing of skin ailments. 2. Leaves are used for making pattals (are made by attaching leaves with the help of small woody sticks to form a ‘plate’) in which food is served in villages during festivals religious ceremonies. 3. Fruits are used for culinary purpose. Raw fruits are somewhat sour in taste so used for making oil pickles. They can be sun-dried and dipped in fruit vinegar. Ripe yellow coloured fruits, a good source of carotenoids, are used in traditional herbal medicines Proc. XXVIII th IHC – III rd IS on Plant Genetic Resources Ed.: K.E. Hummer Acta Hort. 918, ISHS 2011