Diversity in leaf and shoot characteristics in litchi (Litchi Chinensis Sonn.) accessions

In the present investigation, genetic diversity in morphological characteristics of thirty one accessions of litchi growing under the agro-climatic conditions of subtropical conditions region of Lucknow was studied. A critical analysis of the data for various characters like leaflet blade, length and width, length of petiole, rachis and shoot, number of leaflet/leaf, leaf area, arrangement of leaflets, leaf colour and leaflet pubescence, leaflet shape and leaflet appearance were taken into account on the basis of present experimental findings Kasba (leaflet blade length, width and length), Desi (Rachis length), China (number of leaflet/leaf), Green (leaf area) and Pickling (shoot length) were found significantly higher among thirty one accessions. The cultivars differed in some of the morphological characteristics. The differences were probably due to their genetic make up as well as due to the influence of climatic factors of that particular region. Thus, the genetic diversity in litchi on morphological traits can be collected and maintained in the field gene bank without duplicacy and would be utility in formulation of an efficient breeding programme for the improvement of litchi crop in order to identified promising genotypes/hybrids in Lucknow conditions.