Relationship analysis among growth, fruits and biochemical characters in neem (Azadirachta indicaA. Juss.)

Abstract

Correlation study among 13 characters i.e. tree height, diameter at breast height, D²H (index of wood volume), fruit bearing score, 100-seed weight, 100-kernel weight, kernel to seed ratio, seed length, seed diameter, oil content (kernel basis), azadirachtin A and azadirachtin B and azadirachtin A + B (kernel basis) were carried out in randomly selected 33 trees in 2005, 43 trees in 2006, 44 trees in 2007 and 79 trees in 2008 from the established provenances and progeny trials of Neem (Azadirachta indica). Among the characters studied, azadirachtin A + B, oil content, fruit bearing score and D²H are priced characters. Study indicated that there was no relationship among these four priced characters as well as with other characters in general. These four priced characters are quite independent and could be improved by exerting separate selection pressure on each character without making any negative impact on the other characters. Besides these associations, significant positive relation was observed of azadirachtin A with Azadirachtin B, tree height with diameter at breast height, 100-seed weight with 100-kernel weight and seed length with seed diameter.