An assessment of fruiting and polyembryony in Langsat (Lansium domesticum Corr.) from Nilgiris, India

Abstract

In this paper we report the fruit characteristics and seed polyembryony in langsat, Lansium parasiticum (syn. Lansium domesticum Corr.). This fruit tree belongs to the family Meliaceae in order Sapindales and is considered to be native of western South East Asia and is common in both wild and cultivated forms throughout Malaysia and Philippines where the fruits are very popular and the tree is being utilized in reforestation efforts. It is also grown in southern Thailand and Vietnam and flourishes in the Nilgiris and other humid areas of South India. In the present investigation we report the morphological and biochemical parameters of the plants and fruits obtained from State Horticultural Farm, Buliar (latitude 11.34; longitude 76.79) in Tamil Nadu, at elevation of 360 m MSL and receiving average annual rainfall of 125.14 cm. The plantation was established in the year 1900 and consists of various tropical trees like mangosteen, langsat, arecanut, coffee, silveroak, pepper, cinnamon in tier system of planting.