Growth variability in a Senegalese provenance of Acacia nilotica ssp tomentosa

Growth variability and effect of seed size on growth of seedlings of Acacia nilotica ssp. tomentosa of a Senegalese provenance were studied in a green house experiment. Seedlings were raised from a sample of 52 seeds with a se ed weight range of 0.070 g to 0.258 g; and a range of growth variables were measured on seedlings harvested 11 weeks after planting. Based on the samp le mean and variance, the sample size required to estimate the parameter (m ean) of the growth variables was determined. Seedlings showed a large varia bility in growth. There were five-fold and three- fold differences between seedlings in leaf area and total dry weight, respectively. Seed weight has little effect on seedling growth. The number of replications required to es timate a parameter mean of the different growth variables, within +/- 20% m argin of error at P = 0.05, ranged from nine to 24. The observed growth var iability was indicated to be an important biological variable which could b e used to improve growth and yield in A. nilotica.