Jasminum nitidum - a potential unexploited jasmine species

Jasmine (Jasminum spp.) belonging to the family Oleaceae is one of the commercially significant flower crops of India. India is the largest producer of jasmine, of which 80% is being contributed by Tamil Nadu. Besides having a huge and consistent domestic market demand, jasmine flowers produced in the state are also being exported to the neighbouring countries viz., Singapore, Malaysia and Middle East countries and also to distant overseas markets including the USA. Though there is a large number of species and cultivars of jasmine, commercial cultivation is confined to only a very few, viz., Jasminum sambac, J. auriculatum, J. grandiflorum and J. multiflorum. Efforts are being taken up at Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore to identify potential unexploited and underexploited jasmine species for off-season flowering potential, flower yield, flower quality parameters and market preference. Evaluation of seven unexploited species viz., J. multiflorum, J. nitidum, J. calophyllum, J. flexile, J. rigidum, J. primulinum and J. arborescens indicated that five species (J. multiflorum, J. nitidum, J. calophyllum, J. flexile and J. rigidum) flower throughout the year and hence flowers of these species would be available during the lean-season or off-season of the commercial species. Among these, J. nitidum has proved as the most promising. The flower buds and open flowers of J. nitidum are attractive and comparable with those of Jathimalli (J. grandiflorum). The buds are bold and bright pink and open flowers are pure white and star shaped due to the lanceolate corolla lobes. Observation of keeping quality indicated that the buds remain unopened for 12 h under room temperature and for 60 h under cold storage at 7-8°C. The flowers possess mild fragrance and the plants are relatively free of pests and diseases. Consumer preference analysis showed that J. nitidum was on par with J. grandiflorum.