Diversity studies in coleus (Plectranthus rotundifolius (Poir.) Spreng.) genotypes based on quantitative traits

Abstract

A replicated field evaluation trial was conducted involving 9 accessions of Chinese potato [Plectranthus rotundifolius (Poir.) Spreng.]. In the present study, there were significant differences for the yield contributing characters between the accessions. In the first year (2022), Maximum yield was observed in treatment T3, a local collection from Palakkad district which showed highest value for single plant yield (437.10), single plant yield of marketable tubers (324.15) and average marketable single tuber weight (35.32 g) and can be directly utilized in the crop improvement programme. Numbers of marketable tubers as well as unmarketable tuber circumference were also high for this treatment, T3. On the other hand, yield of unmarketable tubers as well as its number was the lowest for our released variety, Nidhi (T1). Performance of T1 and T5 were low in terms of yield contributing characters under Anakkayam conditions. A positive significant correlation between the yield and yield contributing characters like single plant yield, single plant marketable yield as well as unmarketable yield and the least significance was recorded by weight and circumference of unmarketable tubers. As per cluster analysis, cluster three performed as the best treatment followed by cluster 2.As per the statistical analysis of genetic parameters genetic advance was comparatively high for single plant yield of marketable tubers (46.49).