Genetic variation for growth and yield parameters in half-sib progenies of Melia azedarach (Linn.)

Abstract

Fifty-four progenies of Melia azedarach selected from 11 geographical locations in India were evaluated for different growth parameters at the seed farm at Ladhowal, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, India. Significant differences were observed among and within progenies for all characters at the age of 8 years. Progeny number 1 exhibited superior growth for all traits except clear bole height and number of branches. High narrow-sense heritability (progeny basis, within-progeny basis, and individual plant basis) was higher for mean annual increments for total height and diameter at breast height than other recorded growth parameters. Genetic gain within progeny selection was higher than progeny selection for all traits. Fifty-four progenies clustered into 8 clusters on the basis of the Euclidean distance of the observed traits. Out of 54 progenies, progeny number 10 (Himachal Pradesh, Solan seed source) was found to be the best for the characters studied on the basis of adjusted treatment mean ranking for further multiplication.