Abstract
Drought is the most complex abiotic stress for crop production at the global level. Therefore, developing new African spider plant genotypes tolerant to drought stress is one of the best approaches to achieving and optimizing high yield potential with water use efficiency. Advances in the selection of this crop can be determined by an understanding of genetic variability, heritability, and the associations that exist among different traits. The aim of this study was to gather information that will aid in the breeding of African spider plant cultivars with improved drought tolerance. A randomized complete block design (RCBD) experiment with eighteen genotypes and four replications was carried out across three water regimes: severe drought (30% field capacity), intermediate drought (50% field capacity), and well-watered (100% field capacity), in two seasons. Data on twelve morpho-physiological traits were recorded. The analysis of variance showed significant differences among genotypes (p < 0.05) in leaf yield and yield-related traits. The phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) was greater than the genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV) for all 12 traits evaluated. High to moderate heritability estimates combined with a high to moderate genetic advance were observed for number of leaves, leaf width, plant height and stem diameter under drought stress conditions, indicating that these traits are controlled by additive gene action. Because of their predominant additive gene effects, correlation with leaf yield and favorable direct and indirect effects via the other yield-attributing traits, number of leaves per plant, plant height, days to 50% flowering, relative water content, net photosynthesis and leaf length could be used as target traits to improve spider plant leaf yield under drought-stressed conditions.
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