Abstract
Pongamia pinnata is a leguminous multipurpose tree species having enormous potential of producing high seed oil that could be as a source of biofuel. The collection of pods with higher seed quality characters is much important for Genetic tree improvement program for production of elite germplasm for nursery and plantation. A total of 24 candidate plus trees (RAKs) of Pongamia pinnata (L.) Pierre were selected to elucidate their variation and diversity based on twelve quantitative traits (4 pod traits, 5 seed traits of parent trees and 3 progeny traits) during 2004-2007. The results show that, RAK-5 had maximum for six traits viz pod length (65.6 mm), 100-pod weight (542.4 g), seed length (27.9 mm), seed breadth (17.4 mm), 100-seed weight (217.9 g) and plant height (164.3 cm). Lowest 100-pod and seed weight were recorded in RAK-7 (231.0 g) and RAK-24 (106.1 g). The maximum volume index was recorded in RAK-17. There was fair difference between genotypic coefficients of variation and phenotypic coefficients of variation for all traits except progeny traits. All the pod and seed traits showed high heritability and progeny growth traits had moderate heritability. The 100-pod weight exhibited highest heritability (more than 98.4%) followed by 100-seed weight (96.9%). The 100-pod weight and 100-seed weight expressed high heritability (98.4%, 96.9%), accompanied with high genetic advance (46.0%, 34.9%). Volume index expressed moderate heritability (47.4%), accompanied with high genetic advance (48.4%). It is revealed that the existence of substantial variation can be utilized for genetic resource conservation and further genetic tree improvement programmers of the species.
Highlights
Pongamia pinnata (L.) is an important species which have big potential for that and can be planted all over tropics
Genetic improvement depends upon the nature and magnitude of existing variability and on the degree of transmission of traits or heritability [15]
Variability of RAK-5 had maximum for six traits viz, pod length (65.6 mm), 100-pod weight (542.4 g), seed length (27.9 mm), seed breadth (17.4 mm), 100-seed weight (217.9 g) and plant height (164.3 cm)
Summary
Pongamia pinnata (L.) is an important species which have big potential for that and can be planted all over tropics. Millettia novoguineensis Kane & Hat and Cytisus pinnaus L. is an arboreal legume, belonging to the subfamily Papilionoideae and the tribe Millettia This medium-size tree, being indigenous to the Indian subcontinent and south-east Asia (Malaysia and Indonesia), have been successfully introduced to humid tropical regions of the world as well as parts of Australia, New Zealand, China and the USA [1]. For meeting the future demands of feedstock for bio-diesel, it is important to establish extensive plantations from elite source It may look promising, it lacks the improved germplasm for large scale plantation. Considering the present day scenario, an effort has been made to evaluate the extent of genetic variability, correlation among pod and seed traits with progeny traits as scope for further genetic improvement program
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