ABSTRACT The improvement of onion (Allium cepa L.) depends on the characterization and evaluation of the germplasm to find superior genotypes with desired horticultural qualities and utilization of diversity in future breeding. The study aimed to evaluate advanced breeding lines (consisting of both red- and white-skinned types) through genetic component analyses and genetic divergence using multivariate analysis to identify genotypes that can be utilized in breeding for table and dehydration purposes, respectively. Genotypes ‘(EM-AVT-2) REC-21-48,’ ‘(RIET) RVA-21-01,’ and ‘(EM-AVT-2) REC-21-46’ were found to be high yielders. Higher estimates of the genotypic coefficient of variation, heritability and genetic advance for the percentage of the double bulb, total soluble solid, and reducing sugar contents indicate additive gene action, and selection based on these parameters would be more reliable. The plant height, polar diameter, equatorial diameter, and neck thickness emerged as important selection indices. Principal components such as the plant height, number of leaves per plant, percentage of bolting and double bulb had values of >1, accounting for 81.73% of the total variation. Based on mean values and multivariate analysis, onion genotypes ‘(EM-AVT-2) REC-21-46’ (red-skinned), ‘(EM-AVT-2) REC-21-52’ (red-skinned), ‘(WIET) WVA-21-47’ (white-skinned), ‘(WAVT-2) WVC-21-74’ (white-skinned), ‘(WIET) WVA-21-39’ (white-skinned) and ‘(WHTSS-AVT-2) WTC-21-84’ (white-skinned) could be utilized as potential genitors in future breeding for table and dehydration purpose.
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