A study on morphological observations and biochemical parameters of wild olive (<i>Elaeocarpus floribundus</i> Blume) grown in Manipur

The wild olive (Elaeocarpus floribundus Blume) is an underutilized fruit species that belongs to the Elaeocarpaceae family and is locally known as Chorphon in Manipur. The present study aimed to study morphological observations on fruit weight, fruit length, fruit width, stone weight, stone length, stone diameter, pulp weight, pulp weight: stone weight ratio and biochemical parameters i.e. total soluble solids (TSS), total sugar %, total carbohydrate, protein, ascorbic acid, total phenol, total flavonoid and oil for wild olive (E.floribundus Blume). Accordingly, the fruit samples were collected from 14 locations/places (S1 to S14) of Manipur varying in altitude from 292-1459m i.e. Minou, Longmai-3, Lilong, Yarou Bamdiar, Kakching, Khongman, Patsoi, Thoubal Ningombam, Komlathabi, Yaripok, Molnoi, Tokpaching, Tengnoupal and Chingai. The study showed that sample S4 (Yarou Bamdiar), having an altitude of 777m was found to be the best among all samples studied with the highest pulp weight: stone weight ratio (6.79), second highest fruit width (32.26mm) and stone length (28.57 mm), least stone weight of 2.06 g among morphological observations and highest protein (0.65%), total carbohydrate, (2.38 mg/100g), ascorbic acid (5.51 mg/100g), total phenol (55.21 mg/100g) and oil content (14.26%) among biochemical parameters. There was a negative correlation observed between the altitude of locations of sample collection and the majority of morphological observations (-0.132 to -0.543), whereas a positive correlation was observed between altitude and the majority of biochemical parameters (0.042 to 0.293). This study emphasizes that wild olive morphotypes found in Manipur, India, are comparable in their morphological and biochemical parameters to commercial olive cultivars, and their production technology should be strengthened.