Growth and Variabilty Studies in Neolamarkia cadamba (Roxb.) Bosser Provenances at Nursery Level

Abstract

Neolamarkia cadamba (Roxb.) is a fast growing species recognized as a raw material for match wood industry, pulp wood, plywood industry. Seeds from thirty CPTs of Neolamarkia cadamba across the India were collected and evaluated in nursery for various growth and variability parameters. Significant variation was recorded for shoot length, root length, collar diameter, root shoot ratio, biomass production, sturdiness quotient, volume index and quality index among 30 genotypes. FCRIAC 6 (Pantnagar), have outperformed in seven growth parameters studied, followed by FCRIAC 11 (Chandrapur), FCRIAC 19 (Ragihosalli), FCRIAC 20 (Kodigehalli), FCRIAC 26 (Nashik) performing better in six growth parameters. Shoot length, biomass production and volume index registered high genetic estimates. Heritability was high for all the growth characters. PCV values were slightly higher for all the parameters compared to GCV. Collar diameter, shoot length and root length positively and significantly correlated with biomass, volume index, sturdiness quotient and quality index both genotypically and phenotypically. These results will assist in early selection of good performing and fast growing genotype for raising plantations as well as during further investigation in field trials.