Estimates of genetic variability, inter character association and path analysis in turmeric over environments

Abstract

Pooled data of 27 traits, including quantitative and qualitative, from 15 turmeric varieties grown in three locations over two years were used to estimate the genetic parameters of variability and path analysis. High genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV) combined with high phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) was observed for collar girth, length of mother rhizome, number of mother rhizomes, weight of mother rhizome, weight of primary rhizome, number of secondary rhizomes, primary rhizome inter-nodal length, bisdemethoxycurcumin (BDMC), demethoxycurcumin (DMC), curcumin (CUR) and yield. High heritability coupled with high genetic advance as per cent mean (GAM) was recorded for plant height, number of shoots, leaf petiole length, leaf length, collar girth, length of mother rhizome, girth of mother rhizome, primary rhizome inter-nodal length, dry recovery, oleoresin, BDMC, DMC and curcumin. Correlation coefficients showed that yield was significantly associated with collar girth, weight of mother rhizome, number of primary rhizomes, weight of primary rhizome and number of secondary rhizomes. Path coefficient analysis at phenotypic level revealed that, positive direct effect was high for length of mother rhizome followed by number of mother rhizomes, weight of primary rhizome and curcumin content. The study confirmed that characters such as weight of mother rhizome, girth of mother rhizome, weight of primary rhizomes, number of primary rhizomes and curcumin content can be relayed upon to form selection criteria in turmeric.