Phenotypic (Fruit and Seed Characters) Selection of Dacryodes edulis (Don. G. Lam H. J.) Tree for Vegetative Propagation

Abstract

The study was conducted to identify superior D. edulis trees using phenotypic characters (fruit and seed size) as the criteria to select candidate trees for subsequent multiplication through vegetative propagation. Five D. edulis compound trees were randomly selected within Onne community in Eleme LGA Rivers state in a preliminary effort to assist households in the selection and multiplication of desirable tree phenotypes. Seeds were extracted by softening fruit with warm water at 57oC. Fruit and seed length (mm), breadth (mm), and thickness (mm) were taken using veneer caliper. Size of fruit and seed was calculated as: length × breadth × thickness. The experiment was a completely randomized design in its layout and data analysis was carried out using analysis of variance and regression after a normality test was conducted using Shapiro-Wilk. The results showed that highest mean fruit size (79.38 ± 3.99 mm) was recorded in tree 3 and the lowest was tree 5 (29.60 ± 1.48 mm): while, highest seed size (34.78 ± 2.47 mm) was recorded in tree 3 and the lowest in tree 4 (15.58 ± 0.99 mm). Highest within tree fruit size variability was recorded in tree 1 (24%) and the lowest in tree 4 (12%): while the highest within tree seed size variability was recorded in tree 2 (28%) and the lowest in tree 5 (15%). There was however a significant difference in fruit and seed size between the trees. Pairwise comparison showed that tree 1 was not significantly different from tree 2 in fruit and seed size. There was a significant positive correlation between fruit and seed size among the trees. This implies that selection for large fruit size automatically selects for large seeds size. Large fruited trees can therefore be multiplied from these trees using vegetative propagation.