Variation in growth and leaf yield parameters among half-sib progenies of Cinnamomum zeylanicum blume

This study assessed the growth and leaf yield of two-year-old half-sibling progenies of Cinnamomum zeylanicum at Bakkal Botanical Garden near Sirsi, Karnataka, India. The germplasm was established in January 2020, comprised 15 families with three replications each. These families originated from 15 plus trees identified across five localities in Uttara Kannada and Shimoga districts. The evaluation, conducted 32 months after planting, encompassed parameters like plant height, girth, number of leaf and branch count per plant, leaf area, leaf weight, and total leaf weight per plant. The family G4 exhibited the highest mean plant height (231.66 cm), while the family G11 had the maximum mean collar girth (59.78 mm). Families G11 and S1 had the highest mean leaf count per plant (690.66). In contrast, the family S4 displayed the greatest mean branch count per plant (58.33). When it came to leaf quantitative measurements, family K13 had the largest mean leaf area (59.52 cm²), and the highest mean leaf weight per plant was found in family K13 (4.03 g). Notably, family G11 had the highest total leaf weight per plant (2649.67 g). After comprehensive consideration of growth and leaf yield parameters, elite families G4, G11, K13, K16, S9, and J2 were identified. These selected families are promising candidates for future breeding and tree improvement programs.