Vol. 8, Issue 11, Part K (2024)

Gmelina arborea, commonly known as "white teak," is a fast-growing, multipurpose tree species highly valued for its creamy-white wood and significant role in agroforestry systems. This study investigated the morphometric variations within and among eight natural and planted populations of Gmelina arborea in Madhya Pradesh, India, to identify superior phenotypes for tree improvement programs. Morphometric traits, including girth at breast height (GBH), total tree height, clear bole height, crown height, and crown diameter, were assessed across 216 trees. Results revealed considerable inter-population variation for all traits, with significant differences observed in crown diameter (p ≤ 0.05), total tree height (p ≤ 0.01), and clear bole height (p ≤ 0.001) among populations. The Betul population recorded the highest average GBH (89.33 cm), while Saraswahi exhibited the tallest trees (19.03 m). Conversely, Sonaghati showed the lowest mean tree height (13.22 m). High coefficients of variation were observed for crown height (36.88%) and clear bole height (30.59%), indicating substantial phenotypic variability across populations. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) confirmed highly significant differences among populations, whereas intra-population variation was non-significant. This study underscores the importance of site-specific evaluation of morphometric traits for effective tree improvement strategies.