Genetic Variation, Heritability, Principal Component Analysis, Correlation and Path Coefficient Analysis in the Fruit Samples of Sechium edule (Jacq.) Sw. Genotypes

Abstract

Genetic diversity, heritability, the genetic advance of yield, and associated traits are some important criteria to generate some basic information related to the genetic improvement of crops. Some characters of Sechium edule (Jacq.) Sw. genotype fruits have been evaluated for their improvement purpose. Genotypes and fruit samples of Sechium were randomly collected for fruit traits such as length (FL), width (FW), circumference/girth (FC), and the number of ridges (FR) from the various parts of village Kigwema of Kohima district, Nagaland at a mean value of latitude (25.60690 N), longitude (94.34250 E) and altitude (1538 masl) for the purpose. Genotypes and fruit samples collection for trait study normally distributed in histogram plot and normality test. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) estimated significant differences in fruit sample traits. The phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) was greater than the genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV) for all the traits. The phenotypic and genotypic coefficient of variation was recorded maximum for trait fruit length, while maximum heritability was recorded for trait fruit circumference. High heritability and high genetic advance estimates for fruit circumference suggest that it could be considered for further improvement through various breeding programs. Principle component analysis (PCA) showed that fruit length and fruit ridges numbers are responsible for most of the variations observed in the fruit morphology and could be considered for its improvement. Fruit width recorded maximum for correlation coefficient direct value indicated towards effect on the fruit circumference and direct selection of the trait for its improvement.