ABSTRACT:
Neelamari (Indigofera tinctoria L.) is a medicinal shrub used against bronchitis, asthama, ulcers and skin diseases. The root, stem and leaves are bitter, laxative, expectorant and anthelminthic. It is an important herb used in the preparation of Neelibrungadi, the famous hair care oil also. With increasing global demand for plant derived medicines, good quality raw drug materials also are in high demand. Hence there is an urgent need to conserve our native plant resources and ensure availability of good quality raw materials. In this context a study was undertaken at All India Coordinated Research Project on Medicinal Aromatic Plants and Betel Vine (AICRP on MAP & B), Kerala Agricultural University, Thrissur Centre and we collected nineteen accessions from different parts of Kerala and field evaluated. From these four promising accessions were selected having better herbage yield and indican content based on the performance in our experimental field. These promising accessions were evaluated in farmers filed over three different locations as Multilocational Trial for further selection along with a local check for comparison. The results of the study revealed that accession number ICRIT-4 and ICRIT -14 were on par with highest herbage yield and better indican content which we can recommend for cultivation in farmers field.