Department of Tree Improvement and Genetic Resources, ** Former Director of Extension Education , UHF Nauni, Dr Y S Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan (H.P.) India-173 230 ***Assistant Professor, KVK, Rajouri, SKAUST, Jammu, J&K, **** Assistant Professor, Central Agriculture University, Jhansi, UP E-mail : * jaiuhfrajgarh@rediffmail.com Nursery Growth Performance of Hybrid Seedlings of Willow (Salix species) JP Sharma*, NB Singh**, P Chaudhary*** and Sapna Thakur**** ABSTRACT Key words: Salix, Family, hybrids, willow, correlation INTRODUCTION The genus Salix (Salicaceae) is one of the most important taxonomic entities of the world because of the great number of species and variety (Chaudhary et al 2011) having 330-500 species worldwide (Argus 1997). Around 31 species of willows are reported from India (Sharma et al 2011). Salix being a lifeline for cold desert areas of Himachal and Jammu and Kashmir is used to make agricultural implements, ropes, boxes, baskets etc. The bark and leaves are main source of winter fodder to cattle, sheep and goats (Rawat et al 2006). Willow wood is best suited for sport items i.e. cricket bats (Bhat 2004) polo bats etc. and artificial limbs. Willows in the Trans- Himalayan region are used for making charcoal Clones of willow (Salix species) were selected for control breeding/hybridization during the year 2011. The hybrids produced were raised and evaluated in earthen bowl (Stage I), root trainer (Stage II), polybags (Stage III) and finally shifted to the nursery (Stage IV) in the winter season and growth and leaf characters were evaluated in the year 2012. The nursery data revealed that growth (plant height and basal diameter) was recorded highest (347.48 cm, 18.98 mm, respectively) in family PN 227 x SI-64-007 followed by family PN 227 x NZ 1179 (328.35 cm, 18.40 mm, respectively). Number of branches was recorded maximum in family PN 227 x NZ 1140, while branch length, branch diameter, leaf length, petiole length were almost at par among all of the families. Correlation coefficient was found maximum for leaf length with midrib length (0.960) followed by plant height with basal diameter (0.851). A significant and positive correlation of basal diameter with number of nodes, branch diameter and branch number was recorded. On the basis of principal component analysis four components were extracted contributing 86.88 per cent of total variation. The first component explained 41.87 per cent variability included number of nodes (0.855), branch number (0.780), branch diameter (0.691), midrib length (0.670), basal diameter (0.653), branch length (0.588) and plant height (0.566). The maximum priority should be given to number of nodes along with other characters in first component for the selection in further breeding programme. 123 Volume 36 No. 1 Journal of Tree Sciences online available at www.ists.in Print : ISSN 0970-7662 Online : ISSN 2455-7129 INDIAN SOCIETY OF TREE SCIENTISTS Dr. Y. S. Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry Nauni, Solan Himachal Pradesh Pin - 173230 (INDIA) website : www.ists.in Journal of Tree Sciences International Jounal of Research and Development in Tree Sciences and Enviornmental Conservation Volume 33 No. (1&2), 2014 June, 2017 DOI: 10.5958/2455-7129.2017.00016.4