Growth Performance of Interspecific Hybrids of <I>Eucalyptus</I> in Punjab

Abstract

The interspecific hybrids of Eucalyptus (FRI-4 and FRI-5) developed at the Forest Researcb Institute, Dehra Dun were compared for growth performance with widely planted Mysore Gum (local control). The experiment was laid out at Ludhiana (Punjab) in a randomized block design during March, 1985. The growth characteristics recorded were height, diameter and volume. The hybrids were not significantly different for these characters from the local control till the age of 6 years and 9 months. However, the performance of FRI-5 was slightly better than the FRI-4 and Eucalytus hybrid. The causes of breakdown of heterotic effects in these interspecific hybrids have been discussed.