Variation in Growth Traits in Different Progenies of Populus deltoides Bartr. Ex Marsh

The study deals with screening of better progenies of different clones of Populus deltoides on the basis of growth viz. diameter at breast height (DBH) and tree height for the development of new better productive clones ANOVA showed that progenies were significantly different for DBH, whereas non-significantly different for tree height. Significant variations in DBH due to progenies indicated that these progenies were different for DBH and this trait was under genetic control. Variations due to replication were non-significant for DBH and tree height. The range for DBH was 18.4 (B-1, female) - 30.57 cm (L-12, male) with a mean 22.6 ± 2.60 cm and for height was 23.06 (B-1, female) - 31 m (L-12, male) with a mean 5.53 ± 1.39 m. On the basis of cluster analysis considering tree height and DBH, progenies 107, 86-1, 35, L-14, L-12 and 183 showed better growth than of the other progenies. The progenies 173, L-12 and 183 were divergent and may be used in hybridization programs. In the study, genetic advance was higher for growth traits and genetic gain for the growth traits was also positive which shows the great possibility of improvement in the species for growth.