Genetic diversity and principal component analysis based on vegetative, floral and bulbous traits in narcissus (Narcissus pseudonarcissus L.)

Abstract

The present investigation was carried out with the objective to the assess the nature and magnitude of variability and extent of genetic divergence among different genotypes of narcissus on the basis of vegetative, floral and bulbous traits. Experimental results revealed significant differences among nine genotypes for different traits under study. Earliest scape emergence (64.43 days) and flowering (80.57 days) and highest bulb size (4.22 cm), weight of bulb (67.86 g) and bulblets (14.27 g) was recorded in the genotype Cumlaude, while largest flower size (8.37 cm) was observed in the cultivar Carlton. Further, significant positive correlations of scape length (0.825), weight of bulb (0.914) and root length (0.876) was recorded with bulb size. The principal component analysis (PCA) revealed that 90.97 % of total variations were explained by first four components. Further, loading of different traits based on first two principal components indicated that days to goose neck stage, bulb size, weight of bulb and root length are the main components of divergence among nine genotypes, whereas other traits had comparatively lesser contributions in the divergence. Based on the hierarchical cluster analysis, nine genotypes were grouped into two major clusters. Hence, crossing between the genotypes of these groups is expected to yield heterotic hybrids in future breeding programs.