D., SATISHNAIR, KRISHNAJA R.R. C., JAGADEESHAN., BASAVARAJAS., RAGHAVENDRAAWATI, MALLIKARJUN G.MULLA, S. R.2023-07-102023-07-102021-01UHS17PGD215https://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/5810198065An investigation utilizing twenty one drumstick genotypes representing rich geographical diversity was conducted at College of Horticulture, Bagalkot during 2017- 2020 in a randomized complete block design with three replications. The objective of the study was to assess the genetic variability, heritability, character association, directindirect effect and genetic diversity for 21 quantitative parameters, profiling the nutritional composition of leaf, pod and seed tissues using 17 nutritional parameters and development of hybrids and their molecular confirmation. The molecular diversity and phylogenetic relationship among 23 moringa genotypes using SSR markers along with DNA barcoding for specific genotypes (MO_1, MO_2, MO_3, MO_4 and MO_16) for varietal identification using universal markers rbcL, matK and ycflb were conducted. Analysis of variance revealed significant difference for all the quantitative traits among the genotypes studied. GCV and PCV depicted higher variability among the genotypes. High heritability along with genetic advance was observed for pod yield per plant, single pod weight, pod length, plant height, leaf length, pod girth, number of pod per cluster and number of branches per inflorescence. Genotypes viz., MO_1, MO_2, MO_3, MO_11 and MO_15 showed superior performance in terms of pod yield and MO_2, MO_4 and MO_12 for earliness. The association of pod yield per plant showed significant positive correlation with petiole length, number of pods per plant, pod length and single pod weight. The path analysis for pod yield revealed that plant height, leaf length, number of pods per plant and pod length had a positive direct effect. The genetic divergence study grouped the genotypes into six distinct clusters with maximum inter-cluster distance between cluster IV and V and single pod weight contributed maximum to genetic divergence. Among the proximate components, carbohydrate followed by protein and nutrients- calcium and iron found to be prominent. Four hybrids were developed and the hybridity has been confirmed using SSR markers. Molecular profiling using 44 polymorphic markers identified a total of 224 alleles with PIC value ranging from 0.12 (SSR_51) to 0.82 (SSR_21) and phylogenetic analysis grouped the genotypes into three different clusters. The DNA barcoding of the genotypes helped for varietal identification based on rbcL, matK and ycflb genes. The present study on morphological, nutritional and molecular characterization of diverse moringa genotypes would help the breeders to explore them for breeding in order to improve the economic and earliness related parameters and to improve the metabolome profile of the miracle tree- moringa.EnglishThesis