Genotype × environment interactions: survival performance of six internationally sourced provenances of Azadirachta indica A. Juss in a degraded land in Kano, Nigeria

Abstract

In order to prevent ‘an impending neem failure’, from the incidence of the twin problems of the neem scale insect infestations and neem dieback, six authenticated provenances (Allahabad, Karnataka, Jodphur, Madinipur, Mukkambu and Annur), from the natural range of the species in India, were collected and appraised for survival in a degraded land in Kano, Nigeria. Established in a completely randomised block design with four replications, the trial was conducted with a view to restrengthening and/or replacing the already weakened Local Land Race of the species in the study area. There was a statistically significant difference in the survival of the seven provenances. The established differences are between Allahabad 83% (6.40 SEM), Mukkambu 83% (6.40 SEM), Annur 76% (4.90 SEM), Jodphur 63% (15.09 SEM) and Madinipur 56% (6.73 SEM), on the one hand, and Karnataka 17% (1.91SEM) and the Local Land Race, with 13% (0.13 SEM), on the other hand. The research recommends Allahabad and Mukkambu 83% (6.40 SEM) based on this outstanding performance.