Morphological characterization of two underutilized Jasminum species; Jasminum multiflorum and Jasminum nitidum

Underutilized Jasminum species viz., Jasminum multiflorum and Jasminum nitidum, three accessions each from each species, were studied for morphological characterization in the Department of Floriculture and Landscaping, College of Agriculture, Vellanikkara, Kerala, from 2021 to 2022. The three accessions of J. multiflorum viz., KAU Jm 1, KAU Jm2 and KAU Jm 3 and three accessions belonging to the species J. nitidum namely, KAU Jn 1, KAU Jn 2 and TNAU Jn 1were evaluated for vegetative, floral and post-harvest characters. All the accessions showed significant differences for the morphological characters. The floral and morphological quality traits upon statistical analysis indicated the variabilitywithin the J. multiflorum species. All the accessions were having shrub plant growth type, except KAU Jm 1, which hadclimber type growth. The greatest leaf length, leaf breadth and leaf area were recorded in TNAU Jn 1 (10.22 cm), KAUJn 1(4.59 cm) and KAU Jn 1 (25.89 cm2), respectively. Significantly higher values for flower bud length and width were recorded for KAU Jn 1 (3.64 cm) and KAU Jm 2 (0.50cm), respectively. TNAU Jn 1 was superior in terms of flower diameter (4.82 cm) and hundred flower weight (18 g). The greatest value for the number of petals was noted in KAU Jn1 (10.90), which was on par with TNAU Jn 1 (10.56). Higher number of forks per cyme was observed in KAU Jm 1(28.85). Significantly higher shelf life was observed in cold storage for all the accessions when compared with the ambient storage. Due to the positive traits such as off-season flowering, J. nitidum and J. multiflorum can be used aspotential commercial species.