Genetic variability, character association and diversity studies on wild apricot (Prunus armeniaca L.) genotypes in Himachal Pradesh, India

Abstract

Variability studies on 92 wild apricot (Prunus armeniaca L.) genotypes growing in Himachal Pradesh, India were carried out during 2015–2017. The aim was to determine genetic relatedness amongst the genotypes and to identify characters influencing yield for effective genetic improvement in apricot. All the genotypes exhibited a great deal of variation for most of the characters studied and fell into two broad clusters further divided into 11 sub-clusters. Higher genotypic and phenotypic coefficient of variation was observed for sugar-acid ratio, stone weight, pulp to stone ratio, titratable acidity, reducing sugar and trunk girth. High heritability with high genetic gain was recorded in trunk girth, reducing sugars, titratable acidity and stone weight. High heritability with moderate genetic gain was recorded for yield, non-reducing sugars, total sugars and fruit weight. Several characters namely reducing sugars, trunk girth, TSS, fruit weight, stone breadth, non-reducing sugars, leaf area, stone weight, stone length and sugar/acid ratio had direct positive effect on fruit yield suggesting their use as selection indices for affecting genetic improvement in apricot.