Selecting exceptionally Heritiera fames seedlings from nursery is a
promising and low-cost means of tree improvement, according to the study.
From 2010 to 2016, 18,000 outstanding seedlings were chosen from nursery in
the Sundarban and out planted. The final assessment as to efficiency of
seedlings selection from selected trees of top-dying affected and non-affected
(Healthy) areas awaits comparison of progeny from chosen selects with those
from similarly chosen controls to see how much of the phenotypic gain is truly
genetic. This investigation involved more selections and plantations than had
not been tried for H. fames in the past. The next step in evaluating nursery
selection is to compare progeny from selects with those of controls to see how
much of the phenotypic gain is truly genetic. The great promise of Ls, L4, L12,
Lie, Lso, L35 & L36 line of H. fames trees has been achieved with expected
superior genetic material of unknown origin. This is reflected in the high
variability observed in growth amongst individuals. Using advanced
propagation techniques, these can be cloned and potentially provide the genetic
base for a highly successful clonal forestry program for creation of top dying
resistant H. fomes trees.