Evaluation of genetic variability, correlation and path co-efficient analysis for cut flower attributing traits in medium decorative dahlia (Dahlia variabilis L.)

Abstract

The experiment laid out in Randomized Block Design, which was replicated thrice with 15 cultivars of medium decorative dahlia to study the genotypic and phenotypic coefficients of variation, heritability, expected genetic advance, correlation among the cut flower attributing traits and their effect in medium decorative dahlia. The PCV values were slightly higher than GCV, indicating little influence of environment in character expression. High heritability coupled with high genetic advance and high GCV were observed for plant height, stalk length, leaf area and cluster weight of tubers indicating the multitude of additive gene action. Results of genotypic and phenotypic correlation co-efficient showed significant positive correlation for vase life, flower diameter, self-life and cluster weight of tubers per plant, plant height, and days to flower bud emergence from planting and stalk diameter with each other and other yield attributes. The component characters and path-coefficient analysis revealed positive direct effect of days to flower bud emergence from planting, days to full bloom from flower bud emergence and plant height at full bloom had direct positive effect. The analysis suggests that the above mentioned parameters are sufficient for direct selection of cultivars for cut flower attributing traits in medium decorative dahlia. However, the high residual effect and relatively moderate level of genetic parameters are revealing the requirement of more no of cut flower attributing parameters under consideration for improvising in crop breeding pipeline of medium decorative dahlia.