Vol. 9, Issue 5, Part L (2025)

Bael (Aegle marmelos Correa) is one of the important indigenous fruits of India with high nutraceutical significance. The present investigation was conducted during the year 2022-23 and 2023-24 on already existed in-situ Bael genotypes located at different villages of five blocks in Mahasamund district of Chhattisgarh, India. This study was conducted with the main objectives to characterize the available genotypes and genetic variability of Bael. Forty different Bael genotypes has arranged in Randomized Block Design consisting replications of four in each genotype along with check variety (Goma Yashi). The findings of the present study include the morphological characterization of forty-one Bael genotypes as per the key descriptor of Aegle marmelos Correa, CIAH, Godhra, Gujrat, 2015.
Under the present research, it was found that extreme variability found in terms of morphological characters of Bael genotypes. The tree parameters like growth habit was found upright in 20 genotypes, spreading type in 8 genotypes, drooping type in 5 genotypes and semi-spreading in 8 genotypes, trunk colour was greyish yellow in 13 genotypes, grey in 7 genotypes, yellowish grey in 12 genotypes and yellow in 9 genotypes, bark splitting pattern was rectangular in 12 genotypes, irregular in 15 genotypes and cylindric in 14 genotypes, thorniness at basal portion of primary branches was thorny in 26 genotypes and thorn less in 15 genotypes and foliage or branching habit was dense in 23 genotypes and sparse in 18 genotypes. Likewise, the leaf characteristics viz. leaf colour was green in 13 genotypes, light green in 12 genotypes and dark green in 16 genotypes, leaf margin was crenate in 22 genotypes and crenulate in 19 genotypes, leaf size was small in 10 genotypes, medium in 16 genotypes and large in 15 genotypes, leaf shape was ovate in 16 genotypes, lanceolate to ovate in 7 genotypes, broadly ovate in 8 genotypes and lanceolate in 10 genotypes, leaf apex was acute in 16 genotypes, aristate in 9 genotypes and acuminate in 16 genotypes, leaf base was cuneate in 13 genotypes, round in 12 genotypes, attenuate in 10 genotypes and tapering in 6 genotypes and leaf surface was smooth in 25 genotypes and rough in 16 genotypes were recorded under the present trial.