Seed source exhibits pod and seed variability in Pongamia pinnata (L.) Pierre.

Pongamia pinnata is a medium sized multipurpose tree commonly known as Karanj or Pungam. Native to humid and subtropical environments, mature trees can withstand water logging and slight frost. A thick yellow-orange to brown oil is extracted from seeds. Seeds of Karanj have about 30–35 per cent oil and most of the physical and chemical properties of the oil are almost similar to those of the diesel. The oil has a bitter taste and a disagreeable aroma, thus it is considered as non-edible oil. Pongamia oil is used as a biodiesel, a fuel for cooking and lamps, as a lubricant, water-paint binder, pesticide, and in making soap and tanning industries. Thirty seed sources of Pongamia pinnata were selected from different locations of Uttar Pradesh to assess the genetic variability in pod and seed characters. Pod length varied from 39.16 to 56.65 mm, pod width from 21.69 to 25.49 mm and pod thickness also varied significantly among all seed sources. The pod damage was recorded from 1.33 to 23.33%. The maximum value for seed length, seed width and seed thickness were observed 24.51, 17.78 and 8.83 mm, respectively. The seed thickness varied from 5.45 to 8.83 mm. The number of seeds/pod ranged from 1.04 to 1.28 while, the value of 100-seed weight recorded from 84.46 to 164.35 g.