Studies on genetic variability in different genotypes of taro

Abstract

Nature has bestowed us with a lot of variability in wild populations of all crops. These variations have been utilized in most crop improvement programmes and for making selection of suitable line for a particular agro-climactic condition. This study, involving 18 genotypes of taro, was carried out in 2015 at Vegetable Research Centre, Pantnagar, to evaluate most promising and high yielding genotypes suitable to this area for cultivation. The extent of genetic variability, heritability and genetic advance in respect to sixteen different characters regarding growth, yield and quality were studied under Tarai region of Uttarakhand. Wide variations were observed for all the characters indicating diverse genetic nature of the base population. The genotype PA 44 was promising as it produced significantly more yield than check variety NDC 1. There were high phenotypic and genotypic coefficients of variation recorded for number of cormels per plant, weight of cormels per plant, weight of corms per plant, tuber yield per plant, etc. Highest genetic advance was noticed in weight of cormels per plant, number of cormels per plant and weight of corms per plant and moderate heritability was noticed in days to sprouting, length of corms, etc. which could be improved by simple selection.