PROGENY AND PROVENANCE TRIAL OF PTEROCARPUS MACROCARPUS KURZ. AT THE NURSERY STAGE

Abstract

Progeny and provenance test of Pterocarpus macrocarpus Kurz, at the nursery stage was studied 90 open-pollinated families from 9 populations. There were significant differences among and within populations on seedling growth (height and root collar diameter), at all measurement periods. Seedlings from Muak-lek, Uthaitani, Phitsanulok, and Korat populations had superior height growth. Seedlings from Korat, Phitsanulok, Sakonnakorn, Ubonrachtani, and Uthaitani populations had superior diameter growth. On the other hand, Lampang, Tak, and Kanchanaburi populations had inferior seedlings, both height and diameter growth traits. The heritabilities were high for seedling height and diameter growth at both population and family levels. Good nursery growth affects greatly to field planting performance, early selection for growth improvement at the nursery stage will be useful.