Provenance-Based Variation in Tree Height and Leaf Traits of Hydnocarpus kurzii (King) Warb. in Northeast India

Hydnocarpus kurzii (King) Warb., commonly referred to as Chaulmoogra, is a medicinally important tropical forest tree species widely valued for its therapeutic seed oil and ecological significance. The present study was conducted to evaluate the extent of morphological variability among different seed sources of Hydnocarpus kurzii collected from eight geographical locations in Mizoram, Northeast India. Ten superior phenotypic trees were selected from each location while maintaining adequate spacing to minimize the possibility of relatedness among sampled individuals. Quantitative traits such as tree height and leaf area, along with qualitative characteristics including crown architecture, foliage density, leaf morphology, and trunk colour, were assessed. Statistical analyses involving Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and Duncan’s Multiple Range Test (DMRT) were employed to determine the significance of variation among seed sources. Considerable variability was observed for quantitative traits across the studied populations. Tree height varied from 20.41 ± 2.17 m to 24.68 ± 1.22 m, whereas leaf area ranged from 173.62 ± 0.61 cm² to 199.59 ± 0.67 cm². Seed sources from Mamit and Lawngtlai consistently exhibited superior vegetative growth performance. ANOVA results revealed highly significant differences for tree height and significant variation for leaf area among the provenances. In contrast, qualitative traits exhibited relatively stable expression across locations. The findings indicate substantial provenance influence on vegetative growth and adaptive performance in H. kurzii. The superior seed sources identified during the present investigation may serve as promising genetic resources for future domestication, plantation establishment, conservation programmes, and tree improvement strategies.