Growth Performance of Melia dubia Cav. Germpalsm Grown under Semi-arid Conditions

Among the various abiotic stress, water deficit is the most devastating factor. The present investigation was carried out to identify desirable genotypes under low rainfall conditions. Forty-two genotypes of Melia dubia were evaluated for different growth parameters like girth, mean annual girth increment, plant height, total standing biomass per tree, leaf area, fibre qualities like fibre length and fibre diameter at the Hoskote Research Station of Hoskote Range Forest Division, Bengaluru Rural District, Karnataka. Significant differences were observed for all the growth parameters among the germplasm lines. In experiment I, germplasm line MD013 showed highest girth (35.81 cm), plant height (3.83 m²), biomass (17.26 kg/tree), leaf area (3.21 cm²), fibre length (886.67 ìm) and fibre diameter (33.30 ìm) while in experiment II, germplasm line MD058 accounted for the maximum girth (37.40 cm), plant height (3.83 m), biomass (16.76 kg/tree), leaf area (3.05 cm), fibre length (903.33 ìm) and fibre diameter (39.37 ìm). MD058 in experiment I and MD013 in experiment II exhibited significant growth performance to other germplasm lines. These lines were found suitable for cultivation in the low rainfall regions.