Date of Publication :20th October 2017

Abstract: The experimental investigation was undertaken at Faculty of Forestry, SKUAST-Kashmir, India, to estimate the percentage oil content variability and genetic divergence for seed and seedling characters of 22 Candidate Plus Trees (CPTs)/halfsib families of Wild Apricot (Prunus armeniaca L) collected from different locations of Kashmir (temperate) and Laddakh (arid) regions in India. Candidate Plus Trees (CPTs) of Wild Apricot (Prunus armeniaca L.) were selected, based on check tree method. Fresh and fully ripened open pollinated seeds of 22 Candidate Plus Trees were collected and graded to constitute seed lots of different CPTs. After the dimensional measurements for seed and kernel characters, part of the seeds from seed lots of each CPT/family were analyzed for oil content estimation. Part of the constituted seed lots of each family/CPT were sown in open field environmental conditions in the nursery following Randomized Block Design, with a view to assess the expression of genetic diversity using Non-hierarchical Euclidean cluster analysis. Analysis of variance indicated significant differences among 22 different candidate plus trees for all the studied characters. Oil content per cent recovered from kernels showed significant variations and ranged between 25.52% for CPT 15/075 (S5) to 54.64% for CPT 14/075 (S5). Candidate plus tree progenies were grouped into five clusters under open field environment. On the basis of inter and intra cluster distance cluster no. I and V may be considered as diverse and can be utilized for hybridization when selecting genotypes for breeding purposes. Seedling height followed by survival per cent, germination per cent, fruit diameter, fruit length and oil content per cent respectively contributed maximum to the total divergence and played a prominent role in creating the genetic diversity. Out of 22 seed sources four sources (S5, S8, S10, & S12) recorded above 50% oil content. With respect to morphometric and seedling characters S4, S5, S18 and S10 respectively out performed than rest of the sources. On the basis of inter and intra cluster distance cluster number. I and V may be considered as diverse and can be utilized for hybridization when selecting genotypes for breeding purposes

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