Abstract
Seed orchards form the vital links between commercial planting activity and tree improvement programmes. Various state forest departments throughout the country have established over 55 clonal seed orchards (CSOs). Any factor that affects the seed production in seed orchards would be a hindrance for the logical ending of a tree improvement programme. Understanding genetic variation in fruiting phenology in teak is a prerequisite for further genetic improvement in a clonal seed orchard, however, there are only a few studies focussing on these important issues in teak. For this study, 24 teak clones of a 20-year-old CSO established and maintained by the Karnataka Forest Department at Manchikere, Karnataka, were considered. Fruiting phenology was studied for 13 months from January 1999 to January 2000, There was a significant variation among the clones of the CSO for initiation and duration of fruit maturation. Clones derived from different provenances differed in their fruiting phenology and with respect to number of fruits per inflorescence. The estimates of the genetic parameters for this trait suggested that time of fruit initiation alone was genetically controlled (h2 = 0.756 individual tree basis), while other traits (i.e., fruiting duration and number of fruits per inflorescence) were influenced by the environment. Best season for collection of fruits in seed orchards was between December to February month at Manchikere. Strong provenance effects were identified for the time of fruit initiation in the CSO.
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