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Селекция и семеноводство

Genetic resources of seabuckthorn (Hippophae L.) in Indian Himalayas

VIRENDRA SINGH AND TEJPARTAP

CH.S.K. Himachal Pradesh Agricultural University, Palampur 176062 India fiws2001(g).hpkv.hp.mc.m1

ABSTRACT

Seabuckthorn (

Hippophae

L.) a deciduous nitrogen fixing plant of family Elaegnaceae has caught attention of scien

tists world over due to rich nutritional and medicinal values of its berries and leaves. Recent surveys carried out by a num

ber of workers have found rich resources of seabuckthorn widely distributed in Indian Himalayas. It grows in cold deserts

of Himachal Pradesh in districts of Lahaul-Spiti, parts of Chamba (Pangi valley) and upper Kinnaur at an altitude range of

2500-4500 m asl (about 1200 ha). In adjoining cold deserts of Ladakh, it has quite rich sources (30,000 ha) in Indus, Nubra

and Suru valleys. In Indus valley, about 6,500 ha under seabuckthorn from Thiksey to Shey, Choglamsar, Spituk, Phyang,

Nimmu, Bazgo and Saspol been reported growing on marshy to moist soils. In Nubra valley, quite rich resources of

seabuckthorn (20,000 ha) grows on the banks of Nubra and Shyok rivers. Scattered stands are found in Suru and Zanskar

valleys.

About 300 ha area under seabuckthorn vegetation has been reported in upper Sikkim in north east India.

Seabuckthorn has also been recorded in Dibang valley in Arunachal Pradesh another state in north east India. Indian

Himalayas is believed having one of the richest resources of seabuckthorn in the world. Three species, namely

Hippophae

rhamnoides ssp.twkestanica, H.salicrfolia

and

H.tibetana

have been found in India. Only recently research studies have

been started in a number of institutions to develop the appropriate technologies for the development and commercially

utilize this multipurpose plant for the economic development of the people and environmental conservation particularly of

Himalayan states.

Keywords:

Hippophae rhamnoides sspturkestanica, H.salicifolia

and

H.tibetana

, genetic resources, dry temperate

Himalayas.

INTRODUCTION

Seabuckthorn (

Hippophae

L.) a nitrogen fixing thorny shrub or small tree of family Elaegnaceae, is being viewed as

plant of multiple uses in dry temperate Himalayas. Seabuckthorn grows very widely in dry temperate Himalayas and India

has quite rich resources of this multipurpose plant. Fruit and leaves are very rich in vitamins and other bioactive sub

stances, which have application in pharmaceutical and health food industries. Despite its great potential in economic

development and environmental conservation, India realized its value only in mid 1990s. During the last few years, some

studies of its resources in Indian Himalayas (Singh et al.,1995, Singh and Dogra,1996), propagation (Singh, 1995), fod

der values (Singh et aL,1999), development of high yielding forms (Singh, 2001) and pharmacology (Geetha et al.,2001a,

b) and development of seabuckthorn products (Kalia et al.,2001) have been carried out. The bed/banks than on the drier

and stoney slopes. The river beds/banks favour the growth of female plants. Male plants are generally taller than females

and bear foliage earlier than the latter. However it is almost impossible to differentiate between the male and female plants

unless the latter start bearing fruits form August to April. At least 150 ha area is under seabuckthorn vegetation in this val

ley.

Chandra-Bhaga (Chenab) valley: Seabuckthorn grows as thin stands on the base parts of northern slope, mainly as a

component of agroforestry system. Important tree and shrub species, which grow in association with seabuckthorn, are

S. daphnoides, P. nigra, C.songarica, R.webbiana, Contoneaster

spp. and

Lqwnqueiocuiaris.

Female plants dominate in

this valley, which are 2 to 5 m in height. Seabuckthorn starts growing from Tandi (2958 m), where Chandra and Bhaga

rivers meet, and extends upto Tindi (2573 m). Although seabuckthorn starts grows on both the slopes, however it grows

dominantly on the base part of the northern slope (Fig.2). Some good patches in the form of agroforestry systems are

found in the villages Kirting, Sansa, Jhalma, Jhunda and Jasratha. Seabuckthorn does not grow on the narrow river bank

of this valley. However fewer good patches grow on northern river bank particularly in Sansa and also near Madhgav vil

lages. Few stands of

H.saiicifolia

also grow in this valley particularly in Sansa village. However their fruit size and plant

height are much smaller than

H.saiicifoiia

growing in Bhaga valley (Singh 1995). Fruits mature in mis valley 15-20 days ear

lier than Chandra and Bhaga valleys, in second or third week of September montH. Fruit size is also small to medium (15-

20 g/100 fruits).

Fruit colour is red in most of the sites, hi some of the sites, fruits of orange and yellow colour are also found.

Approximately 15-20 ha of land is under seabuckthorn stands in plant as thin and scattered seabuckthorn stands grow

widely in the valley from Tandi to Tindi. However plant populations decrease significantly from Madhgav towards to Tindi

as the valley again become more narrow and does not provide enough space and sun light for the health growth of

seabuckthorn. Another factor also cotribute that from Thirot towards Tindi there is comparatively more thicker forests of

C.deodara

P.wailichiana

A.pindrow

;

P.smithiana,

and

Rutilis

on the southern slope which are important source of fuel-

wood and timber and farmers need not any more preservation of seabuckthorn vegetation, as a source of fuelwood and

timber.

Mayar valley: This valley, 30 km in length is very steep on both sides of river Mayar upto 8 km. Some good patches of

P.waliichiana

forests grow on the eastern slope, whereas

J. macropoda

forests grow on the western slope. Few scattered

patches

oIR.webbiana

and

Lqiunqueiocuiaris

shrubs and few scattered trees of

J.reqia

also grow on the base of western

slope. In this valley, seabuckthorn makes its first appearance on river bed in Karpat village, where it makes an associa

tion with

M.squamosa

. good stands of seabuckthorn are found in the village Urges, where they are an important compo

nent of agroforestry systems. Plants height is as high as 4 m. Some then and disturbed patches are also found in the vil

lages Fingnut and dialing. Fruit size is small to medium (15-23 g/100 fruits) and red in colour. About 5-8 ha of land area is

under the

H.rhamnoides

stands in this valley. More area is under its vegetation, as it also grows as scattered plants. In

Lahaul, as a whole, seabuckthorn grows very widely as scattered thin stands or boundaries of crop fields and pasturelands

at the bases of the gentle eastern slopes. Seabuckthorn grows in this valley as thin and scattered stands which are high

ly under pressure of over exploitation as fuelwood. Seabuckthorn makes association with wild rose (R

webbiana).

River

bed is narrow and does not provide enough space for its natural growth. However the gentle eastern slope can provides

enough space for its mass cultivation. Seabuckthorn makes its first appearance at Sissu and grows throughout the length

of the valley (2958-3110 m) in the villages, i.e. Sissu, Khorpani, Rating, Khongsar, Gondhia and Dalang. Biggest patch of

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