Assessment of morphological variability in natural populations of Haldina cordifolia (Haldu)

Abstract

The surveys were conducted in natural populations of Haldina cordifolia in the forest areas of three states of central India namely Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra. Based on the growth parameters of the individual tree, a total of thirty trees from nine forest divisions of these three states were selected as candidate plus trees (CPTs). Variation was observed in girth at breast height (GBH), total height, and clear bole height (CBH) of trees surveyed. The maximum GBH was recorded in the CPTs of Balrampur (243.75 cm) while the minimum was recorded in Balaghat (115 cm). The maximum height of CPTs was recorded in Dindori (30.25 m) while the minimum was recorded in Allapalli (19 m). The maximum CBH% of total height was recorded in Bilaspur (44.22) while the minimum was recorded in Katghora (37.31). Higher GBH and height of trees may be resulted due to more age of trees. CPTs of Bilaspur were of middle age and showed the highest CBH% (44.22) and relatively low GBH and height when compared with those of Dindori and Balrampur. With age, the trees of Bilaspur will gain more height and girth which will result in higher yield.