1Department of Tree Improvement and Genetic Resources, Dr. YSPUH&F, Solan, Himachal Pradesh, India
2Department of Agroforestry, KVK SKUAST-Jammu, Rajouri, Jammu and Kashmir, India
*Email: pmd.choudhary@gmail.com
Online published on 24 June, 2014.
Variability of wood density and fibre length was determined in 36 genotypes of Salix alba L. procured from seven different European countries namely Italy, Hungary, U.K, Netherlands, Turkey, Yugoslavia and Croatia. Genetic parameters were worked out with regards to estimate of heritability (broad sense), genetic advance, genetic gain as per cent of mean and correlation coefficient among them. Wood density was recorded in the range of 0.30–0.53 with mean value 0.40gcm−3 whereas fibre length ranged from 0.45–0.65 with mean 0.55mm. High heritability values show that the genetic control is stronger for wood density (h2=90.30) than for fibre length (h2=78.20). Both the characters were having high heritability with good genetic gain. Clone 84/22 from Turkey had given best performance in view of both the character. Further control crossing is underway to produce ideotype with regard to different end users.
Variability of wood density and fibre length was determined in 36 genotypes of Salix alba L.
Significant differences existed among the clones for fibre length
High heritability value (90.30) for wood density and fibre length (78.20) coupled with high genetic gain (33.33%) for wood density was recorded.
Salix alba L, wood density, fibre length, heritability, genetic gain
