Genetic divergence for seed and seedling characteristics in Grewia optiva Drummond in Himachal Pradesh, India

Abstract

Grewia optiva Drummond is the best quality fodder provider in the subtropical Western Himalayas from Jammu and Kashmir to Nepal up to an elevation of 2,000 m above mean sea level. It grows on types of soil. The species possesses wide variability for different traits of concern, thus inviting the breeders for selection and hybridization to achieve more economic gains. Divergence studies enable the breeder to select the most diverse parents for inter-mating and thus, help the breeder in gainful hybridization [1]. Many other workers have also studied divergence pattern in trees for different traits of concern [2-4].