International Journal of Noni Research - Noni Family

9 Intl. J. Noni Res. 2007, 2(1-2)
P. Rethinam et al. Noni (Morinda citrifolia L.) - the Miracle Fruit - a holistic review
Style : Exerted just beyond the corolla, terete throughout, not fleshy, capitate,
glabrous; lobes absent or 2, ovate, oblong or linear, stigmatic surface located
at style apex. Exert.
Ovary : Inferior, 2- or 4- locular, narrowly obovoid; placenta reduced, ovules
basally inserted, 1 per locule.
Fruit : Densely clustered globose syncarp, fleshy. The Noni fruit is initially
green in colour, turns yellow and the ripened fruit has unpleasant, insipid,
foul or fetid odour (Francis, 2003).
Seeds : Vertical, medium-sized, ovoid to obovoid or reniform; wings absent.
Planting Material Production
Noni is relatively easy to propagate from seeds, stem, or rooted cuttings and
air layering . The preferred methods of propagation are by seeds and cuttings
made from stem verticles (Nelson, 2001). Micro propagation using tissue
culture is the other possibility of multiplication of planting material.
Seeds : Seeds are extracted from the fruits and sowing can be done
immediately after extraction. Hot and wet conditions are required for maximum
germination. Under green house condition or raising seedling in the
warmest part of land provide better environment for better seed germination
(Singh et. al ., 2007). Seeds after drying in shade for 3 or 4 days can be
stored in air-tight containers at room temperature. However, the storage
studies are yet to be taken up (Singh et. al., 2007).The treatment with hot
water at 40 oC for a period of 24 hours and a treatment with sulphuric acid
at 50 % concentration for 5 minutes was able to overcome the seed
dormancy (Ponnaiyan and Vezhavendan, 2005). The highest germination of
seeds were obtained where the seeds were nicked and then treated Gibberllic
acid (GA) at 1000ppm for a period of 24 hours (Ponnaiyan and Vezhavendan,
2005). Seeds treatment with hot water at 40 oC combined into sea weed,
(Ascophyllum riodosum) Biozyme and the treatment with sulphuric acid 50%
for 5 minute combined with Biozyme were able to break seek dormancy as
well as better health and vigour to the germinated seedlings (Muthu and
Mathan 2006). Seed germination studies of soaking seeds for 24 hours with
Gibberlic Acid (GA) at 800 ppm increased the germination percentage to
91.06% as against mere water treatment (51.4 %). The inter action of seed
soaking and treatment by GA 800 ppm increased high percentage of seedlings
and number of leaves (Singh and Rai (2005) and Singh et. al., 2007). Pre
treatment of seeds with Na HClO3 (5% available chlorine for 30 minutes)
increased the germination up to 84%. However, the growth parameters were
good in KNO3 (150 ppm)(Sudha and Singh, 2007).