Clonal progeny evaluation in Chinese Cassia (Cinnamomum cassia) - A preliminary study

Abstract

Chinese Cassia (Cinnamomum cassia Blume, indigenous to China, is an important tree spice introduced into India during the seventies from Singapore. The bark of Chinese cassia is valued both as a spice and medicine. The Indian Institute of Spices Research (IISR), Calicut, Kerala, India, has located 26 cassia trees during a survey in a private estate at valparai (Coimbatore District) of the Anamalai Hills in Tamil Nadu. The germplasm conservatory of Cinnamomum of IISR is the only source of cassia germplasm available in India. These lines were evaluated for their quality and four elite cassia types were identified based on quality. They were further evaluated for their yield and yield attributing characters. Among the four elite lines, D1 has comparatively more number of branches [harvestable shoots (5.9 per plant)] than the rest.No significant difference was observed for yield of bark in the first harvest.