Morinda citrifolia L. (Rubiaceae): a multi-purpose tree for coastal ecosystems and its variability in Konkan region of India

Noni ( Morinda citrifolia L.) or Indian mulberry is an evergreen tree species of coastal tropics and has several uses as herbal medicine, cosmetic, vegetable, animal feed, dye and timber. It is a storehouse of useful phytochemicals including caprylic acid, damnacanthal, lineolic acid, morindine, octonic acid and xeronine. The species is hardy, tolerant to shade and salinity hence suitable for marginal lands of tropical coastal ecosystem. Nineteen accessions of noni were collected across the Konkan coast of Goa and Maharashtra states of western India. They are conserved in Indian National Gene Bank assigned with national identity as indigenous collection (IC) numbers viz., IC 0595272 to IC 0595277; IC 0598228 to IC 0598231; IC 0598515 to IC 0598516; IC 0598232 to IC 0598235; IC 0612951 to IC 0612953. The field grown germplasm accessions were characterised using quantitative traits of stem, leaf, flower, fruit and seeds. High degree of variation was recorded for fruit weight and number of seeds per fruit. The results are discussed in the light of evolution, dispersal and utilization. This report aims to summarize the various reports on uses, composition of phytochemcials, and diversity of noni to harness its utilization by increasing human inhabitants in tropical coastal lands.