GENETIC VARIABILITY OF ROSELLE (HIBISCUS SABDARIFFA L.) GENOTYPES

Abstract

Roselle is more than an eye-catching crop and has been used in a number of dishes, beverages, and conventional remedies for diseases for centuries. It is a source of antioxidants and anthocyanin, which acts as a free radical scavenger and inhibits lipid peroxidation. Five Roselle genotypes were evaluated in the Kharif 2 season in 2021 to assess genetic variability, association of traits, and path differentiation of different characters. A field experiment was conducted at the BIRTAN regional station farm in Noakhali, Bangladesh, in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Data were collected on twelve plant attributes. Analysis of variance indicated significant differences among the five genotypes for most of the characters studied except petiole length (cm) and fruit diameter (cm). The phenotypic coefficient of variation was higher than the corresponding genotypic coefficient of variation for all the studied traits. Phenotypic as well as genotypic coefficients of variability were high for the trait branches per plant (75.92% and 77.81%) and fruits per plant (69.33% and 77.01%), whereas they were medium for calyx per fruit and low for fruit diameter. High heritability estimates (>0.70) were recorded for plant height (cm), leaves per plant, branches per plant, fruit length (cm), calyx per fruit, fruit weight (g), and fruits per plant. On the other hand, the yield components showed medium heritability estimates (<0.70). Medium heritability coupled with a high expected genetic gain was observed for leaves per plant and fruit yield per plant. The highest genetic advance as a percent of men was also observed in branches per plant (152.59%). Fruit yield per plant was found to have a positive and highly significant correlation with branches per plant and fruits per plant, both at genotypic and phenotypic levels, whereas only at the genotypic level for leaf length and fruit diameter. Partitioning the correlation coefficients of various components direct effects on fruit yield into direct and indirect contributions revealed that fruits per plant have the maximum direct effect on fruit yield, followed by fruit weight and branches per plant at the genotypic level. High positive correlation coefficients for branches per plant were due to the indirect effects of fruits per plant. Hence, selection for the traits fruits per plant, branches per plant, and leaf length may be successful for fruit yield improvement in roselle. According to morphological traits and yield attributes the genotype RL 2 is the best among the studied genotypes.