Author(s): Dattappa, Venkatesh L, Sanjeev Kyatappanavar, Syed Ali and Anjan Kumar R

Abstract: A field trial was conducted at the Bakkal Botanical Garden near Sirsi, to assess the growth and leaf qualitative parameters among two years old half-sib progenies of Cinnamomum zeylanicum. The trial included 15 half-sibling families with three replication derived from 15 plus trees identified from Uttara Kannada and Shimoga districts. The growth and leaf qualitative parameters of the progenies were evaluated at 24 months after planting. The germplasm was established in January 2020. A wide variation was observed among the progenies. The highest mean plant height was observed in K13 (171.66 cm) family, maximum average girth at the collar region was recorded in the family K13 (32.52 mm), higher mean number of leaves per plant were observed in G11 (591.66), the highest number of branches were found in the half-sib family G11 (43.33). The leaf flush colour was noted among the families with the G4, G16 and K13 families showing a medium purple colour and S4 showing a purple colour. The S4 had purple leaf flushing while the K18 had green leaf flushing. While considering the different growth parameters at 24 MAP the best families are K13, K16, S1, S4 and G11, these families can be used for further breeding and tree improvement programme.

DOI: 10.33545/26174693.2024.v8.i4Se.990