GUPTA, TARANARENDRA, SINGH2021-03-032021-03-032021-02https://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/5810161887ABSTRACT The present research entitled “Studies on provenance variation in M. Toona ciliataRoem” was carried out in the Department of Tree Improvement and Genetic Resources, Dr. Y. S. Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan (HP). Field survey was carried out across the population of Toona ciliata through HP,UK and UP to select well represented twelve provenances viz., P1 (Nauni), P2 (Hamirpur), P3 (Thakurduara), P4 (Ghumarwin), P5 (Nurpur), P6 (Nainikhad), P7 (Una), P8 (Rajpur), P9 (Kathgodam), P10 (Naini), P11 (Nagina) and P12 (Sarsawa). The trees of approximately same age group were randomly selected and phenotypic characters viz., tree height, tree diameter, crown spread, clear bole height and crown area were recorded. The seeds were collected from individual trees for seed studies. The data analyzed by RBD and CRD revealed that there was significant variation in provenances and maximum seed germination percentage from Nauni provenance. In order to study variability status of individual mother trees selected under each provenance, progenies of individual tree were raised in Randomized Block Design to assess the growth performances w.r.t germination energy index (%), seedling survival (%) seedling height (cm), collar diameter (mm), number of leaves and branches and leaf length. Half sib progenies performances revealed significant variation within provenances suggesting for single tree selection. The genetic estimates suggested intensive selection as high heritability followed by high genetic gains were obtained for crown spread and tree height. Similarly high correlation for collar diameter with mother tree height and 100 seeds weight was observed. The study revealed significant variation in chemical characteristics of wood from different provenances of Toona ciliata. The wood chemical analysis revealed that highest sapwood moisture content (58.98 %) was observed from Nauni, whereas minimum (29.05 %) was recorded from Ghumarwin. The heartwood moisture content was observed highest (54.94 %) from Hamirpur. The study revealed that heartwood moisture content was positively correlated with sap wood moisture content. The maximum holocellulose (74.50%) and lignin (28.50%) contents were recorded from Naini and Nauni respectively while, minimum holocellulose (65.10%) and lignin (16.83 %) was noticed from Nauni and Hamirpur. The study revealed that heart wood moisture content was positively correlated with sap wood moisture content (0.926). It was also observed that heart wood moisture content was positively correlated with heartwood maximum moisture content (0.587), sapwood maximum moisture content (0.636), cold water soluble extractive (0.697), hot water soluble extractive (0.772), alcohol benzene soluble extractive (0.616) and lignin content (0.665). The moderate to high heritability and genetic gains were estimated for collar diameter and seedling height till one year age suggesting early selectionEnglishThesis