TITLE:
Quantitative Genetic Variation in Gum Arabic (Acacia senegal (L) Willd) Provenances
AUTHORS:
N. M. Fakuta, I. F. Ojiekpon, I. B. Gashua, O. C. Ogunremi
KEYWORDS:
Gum Arabic, Genotypic Coefficient of Variation, Phenotypic Coefficient of Variation, Genetic Advance, Provenances
JOURNAL NAME:
American Journal of Plant Sciences,
Vol.6 No.18,
November
12,
2015
ABSTRACT: Twelve (12) Acacia senegal provenances were evaluated at the Rubber Research Institute of Nigeria,
Gum Arabic Sub-Station Gashua, Yobe state. Gum yield and some morphological data were collect
in three years to estimate mean effects, genetic variability, heritability and genetic advance in
Acacia senegal provenances. The analysis of variance revealed highly significant difference for all
traits. Genetic component analysis showed that both genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV) and
phenotypic coefficient of variation (PVC) were high for all the traits except bark thickness. PCV
was higher in proportion than GCV with respect to all the traits. Gum yield gave the highest relative
difference (RD) over other traits. Heritability estimates were high for bark thickness (77.36)
and stem diameter (61.75). Expected genetic advance was high in number of tree incision (1.29),
stem diameter (1.54) and yield in kg/ha (22.31). This study indicated that there was sufficient genetic
variability in Acacia senegal provenances that could be used as a base for improvement of
yield and other component attributes of this species through direct selection and hybridization.