Studies on genetic variability in Germplasm of coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.)

Abstract

The present investigation was conducted during November 2015- March 2016 at Main Experimental Station of Vegetable Science, Narendra Deva University of Agriculture &Technology, Kumarganj, and Fakirabad (U.P.). The field experiment was laid out in Augmented Block Design with 100 genotypes along with three checks in ten blocks accommodating ten genotypes and three checks in each block. The characters studied were Days to 50% flowering, plant height (cm), number of branches per plant,, number of fruiting nodes per plant, umbel diameter (cm), number of umbels per plant, number of fruits per umbel, number of umbellate per umbel, number of fruits per umbellate, 1000 seed weight (g), seed yield per plant (g).Data were analyzed statistically for their mean, range, coefficient of variation and correlation, path. Analysis of variation due to the blocks were highly significant for all the characters except days to 50% flowering was significant and variance due to checks were significant for umbels per plant, fruits per umbel and fruits per umbellate while, highly significant for branches per plant and other characters are non-significant. Based on mean performance for yield and yield components, the NDCOR-78, NDCor-63, NDCOR-79, NDCor-91 and NDCor-81 were identified as most promising genotypes for seed yield per plant. The maximum genotypic coefficient of variation was observed for umbels per plant and phenotypic coefficient of variation was observed for seed yield per plant and lowest for days to 50% flowering, respectively. The High yield per plant (35.89), branches per plant (33.37), test weight (32.81) and fruits per umbel (30.06). Highly significant and positive correlation coefficient of seed yield per plant was observed with test weight followed by fruits per umbel, umbellate per umbel, branches per plant and plant height. Path coefficient analysis carried out revealed test weight followed by fruiting nodes per plant, fruits per umbel, fruits per umbellate and umbels per plant had positive direct effect on seed yield per plant. The 103 genotypes of coriander were grouped in to eleven distinct clusters. Clustery had highest number of genotypes followed by cluster VIII, XI, X, III, VI, V, IX, II, I and VII. The Maximum intra-cluster distance was observed between cluster III (27.31) followed by cluster II (16.69). Maximum inter-cluster distance was observed between clusters III and cluster VIII (64.80) suggested that cluster is genetically very diverse to each other. Cluster I showed maximum mean value for yield per plant (12.13) followed by cluster X (10.93).