Among currently used fast growing species in different countries, the Casuarinas have emerged as the most suitable for Agroforestry, plantation forestry and industrial plantations. In Agroforestry systems, farmers may prefer tree species that have deep and less dense roots and do not compete strongly with agricultural crops for water and nutrients. An understanding of the rooting pattern of tree species used in Agroforestry systems is essential for the development and management of systems involving them. This study aims at examining the potential of this species for Agroforestry and other...

Heterosis is a widely occuring biological phenomenon in both the plants and animal species. The exploitation of heterosis is a common objective in plant breeding. In forest tree breeding this usually takes the form of strategies to avoid inbreeding depression or the exploitation of positive heterosis through deployment of high performing full sibs in either family or clonal forestry. The tailoring of tree in future biomass production by genetic manoeuvring holds a great promise. Depending upon breeding objectives, both positive and negative heterosis is useful for crop improvement. In...