Variations in seedling progenies of open pollinated cashew (Anacardium occidentale L.)

Abstract

The present investigations ware carried out in the College of Horticulture, Kerala Agricultural University, during the years 1976 to 1988 The study consisted of two aspects namely the variations of seedlings of different types of cashes in the nursery and the variations among seedling trees of a single selected mother tree, 2-20 in the main fields She object of this study was to find out the desirability or otherwise in selecting a single open pollinated mother tree for seedling purposes. She nursery studies were also intended to work out the relationship if any, that existed between the nut and seedling characters in order to fix a selection criterion of seeds or seedlings in cashew. The nursery studies revealed that the variation present in nut or seedling characters between different types or classes was more when compared to the variation within a type or class. Different types behaved differently in the extent of variation of nut and seedling characters. She fact that certain types recorded more variation in nuts and seedlings while others recorded least variation.Indicated the scope of selecting types with least variation.Seedlings from heavy nuts wore more vigorous in the nursery. Whether vigorous seedlings will continue to he vigorous and high yielding is an aspect for further investigations.