Sharma, AkhileshRana, Neha2022-10-112022-10-112022-08-31https://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/5810188757The present investigation was undertaken to assess the nature and magnitude of genetic variation using morphological and molecular markers, association of yield with its component traits and their direct and indirect contributions towards marketable curd weight to identify the most promising cauliflower genotypes. The experimental material comprising of 36 genotypes belonging to mid late and late group were evaluated in α-RBD design with three replications during winter season 2021-22. Data were recorded on marketable curd weight along with 19 component traits. The mean sum of squares depicts sufficient genetic variability for all morphological, yield and quality traits. The evaluation of mean performance revealed that ‘DPCaCMS-1’ was top ranked with an advantage of 25.69 % for marketable curd weight over best check ‘Palam Uphar’ followed by ‘DPCaf-29’, ‘DPCaf-US’, ‘DPCaf-CMS5’ and ‘DPCaf-W131W’ which was mainly due to significant contribution of curd polar diameter, curd equatorial diameter, leaf length, leaf width, optimum plant frame, curd solidity, curd size index, gross plant weight and net curd weight. High PCV and GCV were reported for marketable curd weight, net curd weight, stalk length, curd solidity, harvest duration, ascorbic acid and non-marketable curds. Similarly, high heritability coupled with high genetic advance was observed for gross plant weight, marketable curd weight, curd solidity, days to curd initiation, days to first marketable curd harvest, stalk length, harvest index, total soluble solids and ascorbic acid. Correlation and path coefficient analysis revealed that gross plant weight, net curd weight, curd size index, curd solidity, plant frame, stalk length and harvest index could be considered as the best selection parameters for evolving high yielding genotypes. The multivariate analysis grouped different genotypes into nine clusters indicating considerable genetic diversity among the genotypes with four as monogenotypic. Molecular diversity analysis using UPGMA method indicated the presence of considerable diversity in the population as genotypes were grouped into two major and four sub-clusters. Based on morphological and molecular characterization, genotypes namely, ‘DPCaCMS-1’, ‘DPCaf US’, ‘DPCaf-W131W’, ‘DPCaf-S121’, ‘DPCaf-W4’, ‘DPCaf-29’, ‘DPCaCMS-4’, ‘DPCaf CMS5, ‘DPCaf-12-1’, ‘DPCaf-18’, ‘DPCaY-9’, ‘DPCaf-13’ and ‘DPCaY-7’ were identified as diverse and potential breeding stock to be used in future breeding programmes to either exploit heterosis or to isolate transgressive segregants with desirable horticultural traits in mid-late/late cauliflower.EnglishThesis