Genetic variability and correlation studies among morphological traits in garlic (Allium sativum L.)

Thirty-four genotypes of garlic were evaluated at Vegetable Research Station of C. S. Azad University of Agriculture and Technology, Kalyanpur, Kanpur during rabi season of 2018-19 to study the genetic variability as well as an association for 18 yield and yield developmental characters. A wide range of variation was observed for most of the characters like total bulb yield, marketable bulb yield, plant height, average weight of bulb, days to maturity, number of cloves bulb-1, average weight of cloves bulb-1, leaf length and dry matter content. The phenotypic coefficient of variation was higher than the genotypic coefficient of variation for all the traits studied, indicating influence of environment in the expression of these traits. Average weight of cloves bulb-1, average weight of bulb and plant height had a high phenotypic and genotypic coefficient of variations coupled with high estimates of heritability and expected genetic advance. The marketable bulb yield had a significant positive correlation with characters viz., total bulb yield, width of cloves, average weight of bulb, number of leaves plant-1, days to maturity and average weight of cloves bulb-1 indicating that selection based on these traits will help to increase the yield of garlic.