VARIABILITY AND GENETIC DIVERGENCE STUDIES IN SEED AND SEEDLING TRAIT OF CANDIDATE PLUS TREES OF Acacia catechu WILLD.
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Date
2023-09-27
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UHF,NAUNI
Abstract
ABSTRACT
The present investigation entitled “Variability and genetic divergence studies in seed and
genetic divergence of candidate plus trees of Acacia catechu Willd.” was carried out to evaluate
variation among twenty candidate plus trees at College of Horticulture and Forestry, Neri Hamirpur
(H.P). Twenty candidate plus tress (CPTs) of Acacia catechu were selected from two districts of
Himachal Pradesh namely, Una and Hamirpur (10 CPTs from each district). The experiment was laid
out in a CRD with three replications. One year old seedlings were observed and analysed for growth
and genetic parameters. Significant difference was found among all the CPTs with respect to pod,
seeds and nursery growth parameters. CPT 1 (Khaggal) recorded maximum values for pod length, pod
width, pod thickness. CPT 2 (Neri) recorded maximum number of seeds per pod. CPT 12
(Thanakalan) recorded maximum values for seed length, seed width, seed thickness, 100 seed weight,
germination percentage. CPT 10 (Kashmir) recorded maximum fresh root shoot ratio whereas, CPT 1
(Khaggal) recorded maximum dry root shoot ratio. CPT 8 (Kamlah) performed better than all other
varieties for seedling height and collar diameter. CPT 1 (Khaggal), CPT 8 (Kamlah) and CPT 20
(Baruhi) showed outstanding performance for growth and biomass traits. Heritability value was
recorded high to moderate for all the traits. In correlation coefficient studies significant and positive
genotypic and phenotypic correlation was observed for majority of the characters. Magnitude of
genotypic correlation coefficient was found higher than phenotypic correlation coefficient.
Divergence (D2) studies indicated remarkable diversity among twenty candidate plus trees (CPTs)
of Acacia catechu Willd. Based on analysis of genetic divergence, four clusters were formed with
maximum number of CPTs (11) falling under cluster I. The findings of present study revealed that the
selection of suitable CPTs based on their growth performance will further help in tree improvement
programs.