Genetic variability correlation and path analysis in fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill.) genotypes
Genetic variabilitys in fennel genotypes
Abstract
A research work on genetic variability, correlation and path coefficient analysis were estimated in 19 genotypes of fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill.) grown in a Randomized Block Design (RBD) with three replications during Rabi season of 2016-17 at the research farm of ICAR-National Research Centre on Seed Spices, Tabiji, Ajmer (Rajasthan). Analysis of variance were estimated for days to germination (3.01**), king umbel anthesis (2.87**), days to 50% flowering (110.93**), king umbel diameter (5.82**), plant height (328.23**), number of primary branches (2.57**), number of secondary branches (78.81**), number of umbels per plant (446.04**), number of umbellets per umbel (32.25**) and number of seeds per umbellet (12.51**) found significant among all characters while, for test weight (gm), seed yield per plot (kg) and essential oil were found non-significant. The highest estimates of PCV along with GCV were found for number of umbels per plant (24.65), seed yield per plot (21.74) and number of secondary branches (20.93) while, moderate to high PCV & GCV were found for the characters viz., number of umbellets per umbel, number of primary branches and number of seeds per umbellet and reaming characters viz., test weight, essential oil and days to 50 % flowering were found low. The estimates of heritability was found very high for seed yield per plot (96.1) and number of umbels per plant (94.9) while, low for test weight (gm) (23.7). The genetic advance was recorded highest for number of umbels per plant (24.25) and seed yield per plot (0.53) while, low in test weight (gm) (0.19). Genotypic and phenotypic level revealed that the seed yield was significantly and positively correlated with number of umbellets per umbel (0.329*), test weight (0.371*) and essential oil (0.371*). Path coefficient analysis of different characters contributing towards seed yield per plot showed that number of umbels per plant (7.09) had highest positive direct effect followed by plant height (6.85), number of umbellets per umbel (5.50) and number of secondary branches per plant (5.16).
