The present work aims to document the phenological diversity of flowering and fruiting in guggul with reference to climate. Commiphora wightii flowering and fruiting patterns were monitored in Kaylana (Jodhpur, Rajasthan) over a period of 24 months. Observations on flowering and fruiting phenology were carried out monthly, from March 2010 to May 2012. Flowering and fruiting patterns were studied qualitatively as well as quantitatively. Flowering and fruiting occurs throughout the year but maximum observed in April and May, respectively and second time in November. Strong positive correlation between flowering/fruiting and monthly mean daily maximum temperature (Flowering r = 0.762, P˂ 0.01, Fruiting r = 0.714, P˂ 0.01) indicate that flowering and fruiting are enhanced by higher temperatures. Fruiting was negatively correlated with mean monthly relative humidity at 6 O' clock in the morning (r = -0.59, P ˂ 0.05). Regression analysis also revealed positive linear relationship between mean monthly maximum temperature and flowering percentage (R 2 = 0.58118, F 1/10 = 13.87652, P ˂ 0.01). Similarly, a positive but quadratic relationship (R 2 = 0.704, F x/y = 10.71643, P ˂ 0.01) was also observed between flowering and mean monthly minimum temperature.

Studies were carried out on growth characteristics, stem branching pattern and leaf morphology to reveal the significant differences in male and female plants and development of reliable morphological markers to identify gender even in non-flowering phase. Female plants have spreading growth and weeping canopy whereas male plants have erected growth and divergent canopy. Female plants have significantly higher height (p = 0.06) and collar diameter (p = 0.03) than males. Similarly, female plants also have higher number of secondary and tertiary branches with wider branch angles leading to the differences in canopy shape and size between two genders. Other morphological differences observed in female and male plants are in leaf characters viz. leaf area, leaf margin and number. Male plants were only having higher stomatal density (p = 0.03) on both the sides of leaves as compared to females. Guggulsterone-Z was detected only in aerial branches of female plants (0.014-0.029%) and in males it was below detectable limits.

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