Selection of desirable phenotypes and characterization of variability in economically important traits are essential for domestication of indigenous fruit trees (IFTs). Currently, participatory tree selection is a widely accepted approach in IFT domestication wherein farmers' knowledge and preferences are included in tree selection processes. In Arunachal Pradesh, India, fruits of Phoebe cooperiana are extensively consumed by people and traded across the state. In this study, we employed a selection index to screen trees for superior fruit traits from a base population of 45 farmer-identified trees of P. cooperiana in Arunachal Pradesh. Based on fruit diameter length ratio, pulp fruit ratio and yield, 19 trees were selected for superior fruit traits. The per cent improvement for 10 fruit and seed traits ranged from 0.16 to 14.56% compared to the base population. Significant variation for all fruit and seed parameters was observed among the 19 trees with coefficient of variation values ranging between 1.92% for fruit diameter and 8.26% for seed weight. There was significant positive association between economic traits including fruit weight with pulp weight, fruit diameter length ratio with fruit weight and pulp thickness with pulp weight. Principal component analysis revealed that variability was largely contributed by fruit weight (0.49), pulp weight (0.46), seed weight (0.45) and fruit diameter (0.42). Cluster analysis grouped phenotypes into seven groups with no clear clustering of individuals from the same area. The study highlights the significance of participatory tree selection approach and the benefits of individual tree selection in capturing wider variation and locating extreme phenotypes in IFT domestication.

选择理想的表型和表征经济重要性状的变异对于本土果树（IFT）的驯化至关重要。目前，参与式树木选择是 IFT 驯化中广泛接受的方法，其中农民的知识和偏好被纳入树木选择过程。在印度阿鲁纳恰尔邦，Phoebe cooperiana的果实被人们广泛食用并在全邦范围内进行交易。在这项研究中，我们采用选择指数从阿鲁纳恰尔邦45 棵农民鉴定的古柏树的基础群体中筛选具有优良果实性状的树。根据果径长比、果肉率和产量等指标，筛选出果实性状优良的19株。与基础群体相比，10 种水果和种子性状的改善百分比范围为 0.16% 至 14.56%。在 19 棵树中观察到所有果实和种子参数均存在显着变化，变异系数值范围在果实直径的 1.92% 和种子重量的 8.26% 之间。果重与果肉重、果径长比与果重、果肉厚度与果肉重等经济性状之间呈显着正相关。主成分分析显示，变异性主要由果实重量（0.49）、果肉重量（0.46）、种子重量（0.45）和果实直径（0.42）决定。聚类分析将表型分为七组，来自同一区域的个体没有明显的聚类。该研究强调了参与式树木选择方法的重要性以及个体树木选择在捕获更广泛的变异和定位 IFT 驯化中极端表型方面的好处。