Studies on Genetic Variability for Quanritative Characters in Garlic (Allium Sativum L.)

Abstract

Thesis Title:"Studies on genetic van· ab 1T •t y'"& Or quanti·t ati·v e characters in Garlic (Alliu.m sativunr L.)" Garlic (Airz um sa (z vum L·) I·S one of the most ·I mportant remunerative bulbous vegetable &rrown after onion. The present investigation was conducted. to assess the genetic variability among 25 garlic genotypes collected from different area/institutes during rabi season (2014- 20 15). At morphological level, ANOV A showed significant variation for all traits indicating greater variability in germplasm. High estimates of genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV) and phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) were observed for number of dry leaves per plant, number of green leave per plant, pseudostem height, weight of single clove, bulb yield, weight of bulb, number of cloves per bulb, and phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) were higher in extent than genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV). High heritability were obtained for all traits (>60%). High heritability coupled with high genetic advance was recorded for plru:tt height. Based on correlation coefficients, bulb yield showed positive and significant association with length of longest leaf, width of longest leaf, number of green leaves per plant, pseudostem height, bulb diameter, bulb weight, weight of clove and days to maturity. Path analysis revealed that highest positive effect on bulb yield was noted by bulb weight followed by days to maturity, number of green leaves per plant and plant height. Mahalanobis D2 analysis revealed considerable amount of diversity in the gennplasm. The genotypes were grouped into six clusters. Cluster VI (07), Cluster I (07) followed by Cluster IV (06) constituted maximum number of genotypes. The maximum inter cluster D2 value (1142.147) was recorded between cluster V and III and the minimum average inter cluster D2 value (87.991) was recorded between cluster VI and IV. The intra cluster distance were found 33.461 for cluster VI, 42.543 for cluster III, 46.325 for cluster II, 61.434 for cluster IV, 75.488 for cluster I, 113.877 for cluster V. Suggesting that the genotypes constituted in these clusters may be used as parents for future hybridization programme. Traits like clove weight and bulb weight per plant were the majo~ contributors to genetic divergence.