Genetic parameters for yield contributing characters in Valeriana jatamansi Jones: An endangered medicinal plant

Abstract

Studies on genetic parameters i.e genetic variability, heritability and genetic advance as percentage of mean were carried out among 46 morphotypes of Valeriana jatamansi differing in at least one distinct morphological character. The experiment was conducted in Randomized Block Design with three replications. The data were recorded for quantitative characters viz. plant height, petiole length, petiole diameter, number of flowering spikes, rhizome length, rhizome diameter, fresh and dry biomass of roots, rhizomes and rootstock along with total valepotriates content and yield estimation from the underground portion. The results revealed that the magnitude of phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) was higher than genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV) for all the characters except total valepotriates content in rhizomes, roots and rootstock where smaller difference between GCV and PCV values were observed indicating low influence of environment. Higher heritability estimate (broad sense) coupled with genetic advance as percent of mean were obtained for rhizome dry weight and roots dry weight. The phenotypic expression of these characters may be governed by the genes acting additively and thereby indicating the importance of these characters for selection.