Forest Research: Open Access
Open Access
ISSN: 2168-9776
+44 1300 500008
ISSN: 2168-9776
+44 1300 500008
Gawali A, Wagh R and Sonawane C
Pongamia pinnata is a leguminous multipurpose tree species having enormous potential of producing high seed oil that could be as a source of biofuel. The collection of pods with higher seed quality characters is much important for Genetic tree improvement program for production of elite germplasm for nursery and plantation. A total of 24 candidate plus trees (RAKs) of Pongamia pinnata (L.) Pierre were selected to elucidate their variation and diversity based on twelve quantitative traits (4 pod traits, 5 seed traits of parent trees and 3 progeny traits) during 2004-2007. The results show that, RAK-5 had maximum for six traits viz pod length (65.6 mm), 100-pod weight (542.4 g), seed length (27.9 mm), seed breadth (17.4 mm), 100-seed weight (217.9 g) and plant height (164.3 cm). Lowest 100-pod and seed weight were recorded in RAK-7 (231.0 g) and RAK-24 (106.1 g). The maximum volume index was recorded in RAK-17. There was fair difference between genotypic coefficients of variation and phenotypic coefficients of variation for all traits except progeny traits. All the pod and seed traits showed high heritability and progeny growth traits had moderate heritability. The 100-pod weight exhibited highest heritability (more than 98.4%) followed by 100-seed weight (96.9%). The 100-pod weight and 100-seed weight expressed high heritability (98.4%, 96.9%), accompanied with high genetic advance (46.0%, 34.9%). Volume index expressed moderate heritability (47.4%), accompanied with high genetic advance (48.4%). It is revealed that the existence of substantial variation can be utilized for genetic resource conservation and further genetic tree improvement programmers of the species.