Selection of Candidate Plus Trees (CPTs) of Azadirachta indica from Different Provenances of South Eastern Rajasthan for Tree Improvement.

The present investigation was carried out in three districts of South Eastern Rajasthan; Jhalawar, Kota and Baran to select the phenotypically superior trees (CPTs) of Azadirachta indica and to study the variation of the phenotypic characters among provenances. Thirty CPTs each were selected for study from each of the three districts and the parameters tree height, crown diameter, bark thickness, Girth, clear bole height, Ratio of clear bole height and tree height were recorded and subjected to descriptive statistical analysis. The data analyzed for the CPTs selected reveals that both the Kota and Baran region have highest value for tree height, crown diameter, bark thickness, Girth, clear bole height, Ratio of clear bole height and tree height. The trees selected from Kota region is also having highest value of both crown diameter and second highest value of leaf area after Jhalawar region and the trees selected from Jhalawar region has the highest value for both Girth and bark thickness among other provenances. The data of this experiment can also be used as a base line data for using in further tree breeding and tree improvement programme of Azadirachta indica. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]