Variation among poplar clones for growth and crown traits under field conditions at two sites of North-western India

• Published in: Journal of forestry research Vol. 24; no. 1; pp. 61 - 67
• Main Authors: Dhillon, G. P. S, Singh, Avtar, Sidhu, D. S, Brar, H. S
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Heidelberg Springer-Verlag 01.03.2013; Northeast Forestry University; Department of Forestry & Natural Resources, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana 141 004, India%Punjab Agriculture University, Regional Research Station, Bathinda-151 001 Punjab, India
• Subjects: agroclimatology; Biomedical and Life Sciences; branches; clones; Forestry; genetic improvement; growth traits; Life Sciences; Original Paper; tree and stand measurements; 印度; 平均胸径; 杨树无性系; 生长性状; 站点; 西北部; 野外条件; 随机区组设计; India; clonal heritability; clone-site interaction; genetic correlation; clonal selection; Populus deltoides
• ISSN: 1007-662X; 1993-0607
• DOI: 10.1007/s11676-012-0269-x

We evaluated the growth and crown traits of 36 poplar clones at two distinct agro-climatic regions of Punjab （Ludhiana and Bathinda） in northwestern India, following randomized block design with three replications and plot size of four trees. Significant differences among clones （p〈0.001） were observed for diameter at breast height （DBH）, tree height, volume, crown width and number of branches under both the site conditions. Clones ‘G-3’, ‘25-N’ and ‘41-N’ at Ludhiana and ‘G-3’, ‘RD-01’ and ‘S7C8’ at Bathinda were found to be superior for volume production. All growth and crown traits registered significantly higher values at Ludhiana in comparison to those at Bathinda. Clone site interaction was also significant （p〈0.001）. For volume, clones ‘L-62/84’, ‘113520’, ‘25-N’ and ‘S4C2’ witnessed huge fluctuations in ranking between sites. The correlations between growth traits were positive and highly significant （p〈0.001） at both sites. The clonal mean heritability was moderate for DBH and volume both at Ludhiana （0.61–0.66） and Bathinda （0.61–0.62）. Across sites, the genetic advance was the highest for volume （49.76%） and the lowest （6.50%） in case of height.