Character association and divergence studies in seedling population of Jamun (Syzygium cumini L.)

Abstract

Seedling origin naturally occurring population of jamun was studied in Jammu region of India to assess the divergence and character association for important horticultural traits. The results revealed higher values of phenotypic variance as compared to genotypic variance for all the characters. Maximum genotypic coefficient of variation was found to be 30.12 which was recorded for the character yield efficiency followed by 15.38 for pulp to seed ratio. High heritability (57.00) along-with with high genetic gain (46.90) was recorded for the character yield efficiency, whereas, high heritability alongwith medium genetic gain was observed for pulp to seed ratio and ascorbic acid content and high heritability with low genetic gain was recorded in the characters fruit weight, fruit size, total soluble solid content and acidity. Character fruit weight exhibited positive correlation with fruit specific gravity, fruit size, pulp to seed ratio, total soluble solids and yield efficiency but negative correlation with characters ascorbic acid and titratable acidity. Highest direct effect on yield efficiency was observed from size of fruit which was followed by characters total soluble solids, whereas, titratable acidity exhibited highest negative effect on yield efficiency. Maximum positive indirect effect on yield efficiency was found to be from fruit size through fruit specific gravity followed by pulp to seed ratio through size of the fruit. Based on the divergence, forty genotypes of jamun under study were grouped into seven distinct clusters consisting of 3 to 11 genotypes.