EVALUATION AND VARIABILITY STUDIES IN ONION (Allium cepa L.) UNDER LOW HILL CONDITIONS OF HIMACHAL PRADESH
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Date
2019-11-20
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COLLEGE OF HORTICULTURE AND FORESTRY, DR Y S P UHF, NERI, HAMIRPUR
Abstract
The present investigations entitled “Evaluation and variability studies in onion (Allium cepa L.) under low hill conditions of Himachal Pradesh” were carried out at the Experimental farm of College of Horticulture and Forestry, Neri, Hamirpur (HP) during the Rabi season of 2018-2019. The experimental material for the studies was comprised of twenty one genotypes collected from different sources (IIHR Bangalore, DOGR Pune and NHRDF Nasik). These genotypes were sown in Randomized Block Design in three replications to estimate the genetic variability and association analysis (correlation and path coefficient). Analysis of variance indicated the presence of considerable amount of variability among all the genotypes for all the traits under study. Difference between PCV and GCV was recorded high for total bulb yield, neck thickness, average bulb weight, bulb diameter, dry matter content and bolting which indicated that the environment is playing a significant role in the expression of these characters. High estimates of heritability along with high value of genetic advance were observed for days to bulb initiation, days to harvest, neck thickness, bulb size index, marketable bulb yield and dry matter content which suggested that these traits can aid in selection programme and can also be improved by direct selection. Further character association revealed that total bulb yield showed positive and significant association with plant height, leaf length, days to bulb initiation, average bulb weight, bulb diameter, bulb size index and marketable bulb yield which indicated that these traits have their significant contribution towards total yield. Path coefficient analysis revealed that plant height, number of leaves per plant, days to bulb initiation, average bulb weight, bulb diameter, bulb size index and marketable bulb yield had direct positive effect on total bulb yield indicating that selection based on these traits can help in improving the yield of onion. On the basis of above mentioned studies genotype NHRDF Red was found higher yielder followed by Agri Found Dark Red, Agri Found Light Red, Bhima Red and Arka Pragathi surpassing the check N-53. So, these genotypes may be utilized for further breeding programme in onion for improving bulb yield.
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