Seed traits and half-sib family variation for seed germination and early seedling vigour in Suragi (Mammea surjga Buch.-Ham. Ex Roxb), an important aromatic tree species of the Western Ghats

Abstract

The present study was undertaken at College of Forestry, Sirsi, Karnataka to study the variation in seed traits, germination and early seedling vigour among half-sib family of Mammea suriga. Species exhibits andro-dioecious breeding system consisting of pure male trees and trees bearing bisexual flowers. It is pollinated through thrips and produces copious amount of pollen grains. Seeds are recalcitrant and show slow germination. Greater variation was recorded among twenty-four families for seed traits and seed germination. Seed germination ranged from 1.0 (KMT-08) to 90.0 per cent (KMT-21) with an overall mean of about 52 per cent among twenty families. Statistically significant differences were recorded for all seedling growth parameters studied, except number of leaves per plant. Half-sib families such as KMT-01 and KMT-13 performed better with respect to early growth parameters. Seed germination, seedling height and root length were recorded maximum heritability values and suggesting that these characters could be considered for further selection programme.