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Pak. J. Bot., 42(5): 3561-3568, 2010.

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DETERMINATION OF OPTIMUM HARVESTING TIME FOR VITAMIN C, OIL AND MINERAL ELEMENTS IN BERRIES SEA BUCKTHORN (HIPPOPHAE RHAMNOIDES)

SHAZIA ARIF¹, SYED DILNAWAZ AHMED¹, ASAD HUSSAIN SHAH^1*, LUTFUL HASSAN², SHAHID IQBAL AWAN¹, ABDUL HAMID³ AND FARHAT BATOOL⁴

Abstract: Sea buckthorn a magic plant from Northern areas of Pakistan has multiple uses against various ailments, soil enrichment and environmental purposes. The fruit berries are rich in vitamin C, vitamin A, vitamin E, essential oil, Phytosterol and minerals (Fe, Ca, P, Mn and K). The micronutrient like vitamin C, oil, phosphorus, magnesium and calcium contents in fruit berries of cultivated sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides. L. spp. sinensis) harvested at three ripening times were determined using biochemical analysis techniques. Harvesting at different stages of fruit ripening was the primary factor determining maximum expression of these biochemical constituents. Biochemical contents were determined at three fruit developmental stages i.e., unripened stage, medium stage and at full-ripened stage. During this study a decline in vitamin C contents was observed along with the fruit ripening. The oil contents in both seed and pulp increased with fruit ripening. Similarly, the mineral contents like magnesium, calcium and phosphorus contents increases with the fruit ripening in sea buckthorn. The main idea was to identify the maximum expression of biochemical at different stages of fruit maturity. It is concluded that it is better to harvest fruit berries at medium stage of fruit ripening when maximum vitamin C is present. For maximum oil and mineral contents fruit must be harvested at ripening stage. The fruit mesocarp is the area where all genes related with micronutrients are active at one time i.e., when fruit is maturing, hence the characterization of gene expression activities at this stage may help in the isolation of these genes for future commercial use.

¹Department of Plant Breeding & Molecular Genetics, Faculty of Agriculture, Rawalakot, University of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan

²Department of Genetics & Plant Breeding, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh-02202, Bangladesh.

³Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture, Rawalakot,

University of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan.

⁴Neurochemistry and Biochemical Neuropharmacology Research Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry, University of Karachi, Karachi-75270. Pakistan.

^*Corresponding author address E-mail: syedasadhamdani@hotmail.com