Genetic Variability of Bael (Aegle marmelos Correa) Genotypes in Mahasamund District of Chhattisgarh, India

Abstract

The investigation was conducted during the year 2022-23 and 2023-24 on already existed bael genotypes located at different villages of five blocks in Mahasamund district of Chhattisgarh and further analysis was done at Department of Fruit Science, College of Agriculture, Indira Gandhi Krishi Vishwavidyalaya, Raipur, Chhattisgarh. This study was conducted with the main objectives to characterize the available genotypes and genetic variability of bael. The significant variations were observed among all the Bael genotypes in relation to pomological characteristics under the present study. The genotypes Goma Yashi recorded the highest mean performance for fruit weight (959.79 g) and pulp weight (803.99 g), MB-28 for leaf length (14.50 cm), MB-37 for leaf width (8.95 cm), MB-2 for fruit diameter (136.44 mm) and fruit length (156.58 mm), MB-16 and MB-17 for specific gravity (1.09 g/cc), MB-21 for shell thickness (4.20 mm) and MB-31 for fruit yield (153.75 number of fruits/tree) under the present experiment. However, the minimum seed weight (6.50 g), shell weight (90.46 g) and total number of seeds (73.89) was confirmed in the genotypes Goma Yashi, MB-24 and MB-22 under the present trial.