Abstract

Studies on Seed source variation and biochemical characterizations of ten selected Pongamia pinnata genetic sources were carried out at Forest College and Research Institute, Mettupalayam in the Year 2009-10. The studies revealed that among the selected seed sources, Karamadai seed source shows superiority over others in terms of seed length (24.45cm), seed breadth (15.46cm), seed length to breadth ratio (1.90 cm), hundred seed weight (144.30g) and oil content in (24.56%).The values for saponification and Iodine number of most sources fell within the acceptable limits of Indian and international biodiesel standards. Only the free fatty acid percentage and acid value exceeded the permissible limits. But this does not subdue the utility of these seed sources which exhibited superiority in terms of growth, physico-chemical attributes and yield promoting their deployment for large scale biofuel plantation establishment.

Keywords: Pungam, seed source, variation, saponification value, Iodine number, free fatty acid, acid value.