Abstract

Deserts of cold are related more to the physiographic causes because of their location and are characterized by natural stress conditions. Biochemical variation in Seabuckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L.) growing in cold desert of Leh, Ladakh and and Jammu & Kashmir was studied on six forms from three botanical regions considering differently in their soil condition. Plants were selected accordingly to their economically important features : length, width the forms of leaves, fruits and seeds, number of thorns, colour of leaves and fruits, length of stalk and productivity.  The study concludes that Seabuckthorn populations growing in the considerably different soil-climatic condition of Leh, Ladakh is characterized by large differences of morphological and biochemical parameters. Common features for these forms are small fruits, high oil and carotenoid contents. Their gene pools should to be used largely for the introduction and selection in order to obtain valuable forms for the plantation in the cold deserts of Jammu & Kashmir and also in Himachal Pradesh.

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