Variability among seed sources of shisham (Dalbergia sissoo Roxb.) for morphometric and biochemical traits

Abstract

A study was conducted to elucidate the pattern of variation in pod traits, germination behaviour and growth traits among seeds of Dalbergia sissoo collected from different sources. The superior trees were selected from 15 geographical locations of Northern states, namely Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan. Pods were collected and sown in the nursery by maintaining their identity. Data on pod length, pod width, number of seeds per pod, germination and growth traits were recorded. Significant differences among the seed sources were observed for all pod traits, germination percentage, germination value and various growth characters like shoot length, root length, shoot dry biomass and root dry biomass. Low heritability for seedling growth traits reflects less transfer of selected traits into its progenies. This revealed the faith on clonal propagation over seed propagation in D. sissoo. A total of six seed sources selected based on growth behaviour were tested for biochemical traits. Biochemical traits showed strong and highly significant correlation for seedling biomass. All seed sources were clustered into four main clusters based on similarity index. The study suggested that grouping of the seed sources into clusters was largely based on their own genotypic potential rather the origin of the seed sources.