Assessing the potential half-sib progenies of <em>Pinus roxburghii</em> Sargent for oleoresin yield

Abstract

Pinus roxburghii (Chir Pine) belonging to family Pinaceae, is native to the tropical forests of Himachal Pradesh which is being commercially tapped for oleoresin in India. Resin industry, which use oleoresin as a raw material is one of the foremost industry thriving on this product and has got an ever increasing importance in our national economy. Keeping in view the value and importance of oleoresin, progeny trial was conducted to evaluate the oleoresin yielding potential of half-sib progenies of Chir Pine. Experiment was laid out in the main campus area of Dr Y.S. Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan (HP) and data was collected on oleoresin yield at the end of season. The trees of progenies having more than 30 cm dbh were segregated for oleoresin tapping experiment. In total, 22 out of 60 progenies had minimum one tree above 30 cm dbh in at least two replications. Hence, these progenies were selected for oleoresin tapping. The method employed for oleoresin collection was borehole method. The data pertaining to the oleoresin yield from different selected progenies revealed significant differences. The maximum oleoresin yield (625.00g/season) was noticed in Kaldoo-P3 and minimum in Rakni-P8 (130.00 g/season).