Genetic variability for qualitative and quantitative characters and study of character association for their exploitation in genetic improvement of opium poppy (Papaver somniferum L.)

Abstract

The goal of this study was to characterize forty genotypes of Papaver somniferum L. and assess the genetic variability using data from morphological as well as biochemical studies. For the characterization, the morphological characters viz., plant height, primary branch, peduncle length, days to maturity, number of selfed-capsules, weight of selfed-capsule, number of open-pollinated capsule, weight of open pollinated capsule were complimented with five biochemical alkalodis morphine, codeine, thebaine, papaverine and narcotine. The results show that morphine and codeine had highly significant positive correlation (0.68 **). Similarly, a highly positive significant correlation (0.63 **) was established between morphine and narcotine. Further, all the 40 genotypes were subjected to cluster analysis where eight primary clusters were obtained using morphological analysis, whereas nine clusters were formed based on biochemical analysis. On the basis of morphological analysis, 32 genotypes were assigned to a one, large cluster which was further organized into 12 sub-clusters. However, clustering based on biochemical analysis yielded one, large cluster with 25 genotypes, which was further subdivided into eight subclusters. The findings from the present study can be successfully employed for developing superior lines of opium poppy.