Variability and genetic diversity in rooting parameters of Persea bombycina Kost

Abstract

Persea bombycina Kost is a primary food plant of Muga silkworm, Antheraea assama Ww. Phenotypic and genotypic variability were studied in eight genotypes of Persea bombycina Kost for rooting percentage and their five contributing characters. A wide range of phenotypic variability was observed for rooting percentage, number of primary roots, number of secondary roots, length of the longest root, average length of the root and survivability. In different genotypes number of secondary roots gave highest estimate of genetic coefficient of variation followed by number of primary roots. Estimate of heritability was high in all the traits. Estimate of genetic advance was high in number of secondary roots, survival percentage and number of primary roots. Rooting was significantly correlated with number of primary and secondary roots, length of the longest root and survival percentage both at the phenotypic and genotypic level. The other characters were also significantly correlated to each other.