Inter-clonal Variation in <I>Dalbergia sissoo</I> Roxb. with Respect to Growth Performance, Survival and Phenological Characteristics in Different Climatic Zones

Abstract

Clonal plantation trials of Dalbergia sissoo were laid out on four different sites viz. Lachhiwala (Dehra Dun), Lalkuan (Haldwani), Bithmera (Hisar) and Pandhori Mindo Mind (Hoshiarpur) to investigate inter-clonal variation with respect to growth performance, survival and phenological characteristics. Clone C192 (Tulsipur, North Gonda, UP) exhibited excellent performance at all sites and suited for adaptation to a wide range of agro-climatic conditions. On the other hand, some of clones were site-specific viz. C066 (Chhichrauli, HR) at Lachhiwala (Dehra Dun) and Pandhori Mindo Mind (Hoshiarpur), C034 (Tulsipur, North Gonda, UP) at Lalkuan (Haldwani) and Bithmera (Hisar). Accordingly these clones of Dalbergia sissoo are recommended for plantations at different sites for optimization of their productivity. Flowering, pod and seed setting were early in clones C083, C087 (Hanumangarh, RJ) and C034 (Tulsipur, North Gonda, UP) and late in clones were C019 (Haridwar, UA), C066 (Chhichrauli, HR) and C192 (Tulsipur, North Gonda, UP) at major sites. Thus, clones can be interbred for optimal genetic gains in the resultant progeny on the basis of early and late occurrence of phenological events.