Variability and Correlation Studies in Garlic (Allium sativumL.) Germplasm Collected from Different Parts of Jammu

Abstract

Present investigations were carried out at Experimental Area-I, Division of Vegetable Science and Floriculture, SKUAST-Jammu, Chatha during rabi season of 2012–13. The analysis of variance revealed significant difference among the genotypes for all the traits studied except for number of leaves/plant, leaf length, dry matter content, total soluble solids and equatorial diameter indicating greater variability in the germplasm. In general, estimates of phenotypic coefficient of variance (PCV) were found higher in magnitude than corresponding genotypic coefficient of variance (GCV). PCV and GCV were high for pseudo stem diameter, plant height, average weight of cloves, average bulb weight, yield/ha and leaf length. High estimates of heritability were obtained for plant height, average weight of cloves, average bulb weight, number of leaves, equatorial diameter, leaf length and low for total soluble solids and dry matter content. High heritability coupled with high genetic advance as percent of mean was observed for plant height, average weight of cloves, average weight of bulb and yield/ha, suggesting additive gene action that can be improved through direct selection. Average bulb weight (g) showed positive and significant correlation with number of leaves/plant, leaf length (cm), average weight of cloves (g), equatorial diameter (cm), while it was negative and significantly correlated with total soluble solids (oB) hence indicating genetic improvement of bulb yield in garlic by putting positive selection pressure on various characters like number of leaves/plant, leaf length, average weight of cloves and equatorial diameter of bulbs.