VARIABILITY AND GENETIC DIVERSITY STUDIES ON <em>NEOLAMARCKIA</em> <em>CADAMBA</em> GENETIC RESOURCES

Abstract

Agroforestry in India is gaining significance due to increase in demand for wood and wood products and the felling restriction on natural forest resources. However, the agroforestry promotion is detracted due to the availability of high yielding, short rotation varieties amenable for agroforestry. For this purpose, systematic improvement program has been initiated for Neolamarckia cadamba (kadam) genetic resources which is identified as one of the potential fast growing tree species amenable for agroforestry system. Accordingly, 20 progenies of kadam genetic resources were evaluated, and the results on variability and diversity were furnished in this study. The progenies differed significantly which resulted in superiority progeny, FCRIK17, recommended for immediate adoption in the agroforestry system and to incorporate them in future breeding program. The variability studies indicated that volume recorded was maximum followed by height and girth at breast height (gbh). The volume also registered high heritability followed by height and gbh. The genetic diversity studies resolved 20 progenies of kadam into 5 clusters, and the cluster III registered higher intra-cluster distance. The inter-cluster distance was maximum between clu ster I and IV. Among the growth attributes, volume contributed maximum towards genetic divergence. Hence, the higher the volume registered by progeny FCRIK17, followed by higher heritability, addresses the issue of availability of short rotation genetic resources for incorporation in agroforestry program.