Estimates of heritability, genetic advance and correlation between yield and its components in onion (Allium cepa L.)

Abstract

The rate of selection process depends upon the heritability of the character involved; hence the genetic variability and correlations for quantitative and qualitative characters are of great value in selecting desired genotypes in plant-breeding programme. The knowledge of association of yield components with yield and among themselves will be helpful in the improvement of complex character like yield for which direct selection is not, very effective. The aim of the present study was to estimates the magnitude of genotypic and phenotypic variation, heritability, genetic advance and correlation for selecting superior genotypes in relation to yield. The experiment was laid out with 22 onion genotypes at experimental farm of National Research Centre for Onion and Garlic, Rajgurunagar, Pune in a randomized block design with two replications in late Kharif season. The data was taken on quantitative and qualitative attributes along with the yield. The genotypic coefficient of variations was low as compared to the phenotypic variations (Table 1). The phenotypic coefficient of variations was lowest for the character T.S.S., while highest for the character percentage of bolters. The genotypic coefficient was lowest for the characters dry matter of leaves and percentage of "B" grade bulb, while highest for the character percentage of bolters followed by percentage of doubles. The maximum phenotypic variability was found in the character bulb weight followed by percentage of doubles and marketable yield.