Variability in growth characters among progenies of Pongamia pinnata (L) Pierre

Genetic variation in growth traits of progenies of Pongamia pinnata (L) Pierre was estimated under rainfed conditions at Bawal (Haryana), India. The seeds of plus trees were procured from four net work partners viz. IGAU, Raipur (Chhattisgarh), CSAUA&T, Kanpur (Uttar Pradesh), NRCAF, Jhansi (Uttar Pradesh) and TNAU, Coimbatore (Tamil Nadu). Seeds of 15 plus trees selected from Haryana were also used. The growth characters were recorded at the age of 4.5 years. The differences among progenies were significant for all the growth traits. The progeny (P7) CSK11 attained significantly higher height (6.28 m), crown spread (579.0 cm) and collar girth (49.7cm) than other progenies. The progeny (P14) NRCP-16 was ranked number 2 in terms of growth performance. Maximum phenotypic coefficient of variation (32.92) and genotypic coefficient of variation (21.62) was observed for girth at breast height. Heritability (%) values for height (62.8), collar diameter (58.6) and crown spread (54.2) were observed high. The genetic gain was 26.52, 26.35, 32.59, 29.31 and 20.12 per cent of general mean for height, crown spread, collar girth, girth at breast height and clear bole height, respectively.