STUDIES ON GENETIC DIVERGENCE IN CASHEW (Anacardium occidentale L.)
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Date
2016
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Indirra Gandhi Krishi Vishwavidyalaya Raipur
Abstract
The present investigation entitled “Studies on genetic divergence in cashew (Anacardium occidentale L)” was carried out during the years 2010-11 and 2011-12 at Research Farm, Saheed Gundadhoor College of Agriculture and Research Station (IGKV), Kumhrawand, Jagdalpur (C.G) to study the characterization of available genotypes, flowering behaviour, genetic variability, heritability, genetic advance, correlation coefficient, path coefficient and genetic divergence. The experimental material comprised of 14 cashew genotypes were planted at 7.5 x 7.5 m spacing in randomized block design with three replications during the year 2000.
The findings of present investigations revealed that the morphological characterization of 14 genotypes was done as per the catalogue of minimum descriptor of cashew. Characterization was done for the 68 morphological characters for all the 14 genotypes.
The analysis of variance showed highly significant for most of the characters studied. Therefore, it is evident that sufficient variability exists among the genotypes. The mean squares due to genotypes were found to be significant for almost all characters, indicating the existence of substantial variability for different characters in the genotypes.
Some of the genotypes showed highest mean performance under growth and yield- attributing characters viz., H-68 for plant height, flowering intensity, no. of nuts per panicle, TSS of juice and nut yield, H-255 for leaf size, length of inflorescence and width of inflorescence, VRI-1 for duration of flowering, H-303 for no. of flowering laterals, fruit set % and no. of nuts per panicle, H-367 for nut weight, apple weight and shell thickness and NRCC Sel-1 for shelling % during both the years as compared to check Vengurla-4.
Considerable genetic variation has been exhibited by genotypes involved in present investigation. The most variable characters are number of nuts per panicle, kernel weight, fruit set % and nut yield kg/tree. High heritability coupled with high genetic advance was observed for kernel weight, number of nuts per panicle and nut yield kg/tree, thereby indicating their importance in direct selection.
Correlation studies revealed that the growth parameters such as plant height, canopy spread (E-W & N-S) and leaf size; flowering related characters such as flowering intensity, length of inflorescence, fruit set % and yield- related traits like number of nuts per panicle, nut weight, shell thickness, kernel weight, apple weight and TSS of juice were observed to show significant positive correlation with nut yield per tree at phenotypic level.
Characters like kernel weight, canopy spread E-W, number of nuts per panicle, apple weight, length of inflorescence, shell thickness, duration of flowering, plant height, fruit set, TSS of juice and juice content are the main yield- contributing characters in cashew. It was also confirmed by the path coefficient analysis.
Considerable amount of genetic divergence was present among the 14 cashew genotypes. On the basis of D2 studies, genotypes H-255 and 30/1 could be used for hybridization programme in all possible combination to get maximum heterosis.
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Keywords
Cashew, Horticulture
Citation
156p.