Genetic Improvement in <I>Pongamia pinnata</I> (Linn.) Pierre for Production of Bio-Fuel

Ashok Kumar; Shivani Dobhal; Savita

doi:10.36808/if/2016/v142i9/102513

Genetic Improvement in Pongamia pinnata (Linn.) Pierre for Production of Bio-Fuel

Authors

Ashok Kumar Forest Research Institute, Dehradun, Uttarakhand
Shivani Dobhal Forest Research Institute, Dehradun, Uttarakhand
Savita Forest Research Institute, Dehradun, Uttarakhand

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.36808/if/2016/v142i9/102513

Keywords:

Bio-Diesel, Oil Content, Plus Tree, Progeny, Storing.

Abstract

Pongamia pinnata has become an extremely important tree species for extraction of oil for bio-diesel. The study conducted on various stages of storage revealed that the freshly harvested seeds produce maximum oil of 35.27%, which reduces substantially with storing duration. The seeds stored at 4Â° C for six months were found to have 33.34% oil. The same was further reduced when seeds were stored at temperature for six months to 32.49%. The oil content also varies from progeny to progeny and Progeny 81 was found to contain highest oil content of 41.43%. Therefore, utilization of seeds of such genotypes for bio-diesel could play significantly important role in bridging the gap between demand and supply.

References

Beniwal R.S. (2011). Pongamia pinnata as an alternative source of renewable energy. APAN Newsletter: Asia Pacific Agroforestery Newsletter, 38:13-15.

Cotterill P.P. and Dean A. (1990). Successful tree breeding with index selection. CSIRO Publications, Melbourne, 80p.

Divakara B.N. and Das R. (2011). Variability and divergence in Pongamia pinnata for further use in tree improvement. J. Forestry Research, 22: 193-200.

Foster G.S. and Shaw D.V. (1988). Using clonal replicates to explore genetic variation in a perennial plant species. Theor. Appl. Ganet., 76: 788794.

Karmee S.J. and Chadha A. (2005). Preparation of biodiesel from crude oil of Pongamia pinnata. Bioresour Technol., 96: 1425-1429.

Kumar A., Parveen, Dobhal S., Ahmed N. and Rawat U.S. (2013). Genetic screening and improvement of Melia compoista Willd. Annals of Forestry, 21 (2). 189-196.

Raheman H. and Phadatare A.G. (2004). Diesel engine emissions and performance from blends of karanja methyl ester and diesel. Biomass and Bio-energy, 27: 393-397.

Rao G.R., Shankar A.K., Srinivas I., Korwar G.R. and Venkateswarlu B. (2011). Diversity and variability in seed characters and growth of Ponagamia pinnata (L.) Pierre accessions. Published online, communicated by D. Treutter.

Scott P.T., Pregelj L., Chen N. and Gresshoff P.M. (2008). Pongamia pinnata : An Untapped Resource for the Biofuels Industry of the Future. Bioenergy Research, 11: 2-11.

Zobel B. and Talbert J.J. (1984). Applied Forest Tree Improvement. John Wiley and Sons, New York, pp. 75-116.