Genetic variability, character association and path coefficient analysis in China aster (Callistephus chinensis)

Abstract

Forty-two genotypes of China aster [Callistephus chinensis (L.) Nees] were evaluated in RBD with two replications for growth, flowering, yield and postharvest traits to determine the variability, heritability, genotypic and phenotypic coefficient of variation, correlation and path coefficient among 13 quantitative traits, based on which selection may be made. The study was carried out at the Division of Floriculture and Medicinal Crops, ICAR-Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Hesaraghatta, Bengaluru during 2015–16 and 2016–17. Results revealed that magnitude of the phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) was higher than genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV) for all the traits. High (>20%) PCV and GCV was recorded for plant height, number of leaves per plant, plant spread, flower stalk length, 100 flower weight, number of flowers per plant and weight of flowers per plant. Heritability estimates ranged from 92.32% (number of leaves per plant) to 99.84% (100 flower weight). High heritability coupled with high genetic gain as per cent of mean was recorded for all the traits studied. The weight of flowers per plant was significant and positively correlated with all the economic traits, except for shelf life. Path coefficient analysis using correlation coefficients revealed that number of flowers per plant contributed highest positive direct effect on weight of flowers per plant, followed by weight of 100 flowers. Therefore, the selection on the basis of traits, viz. plant height, number of leaves per plant, plant spread, flower stalk length, 100 flower weight, number and weight of flowers per plant will be more effective for improvement of traits in breeding of China aster.

Studies on Genetic Variability, Heritability, Correlation and Path Analysis in Chrysanthemum (Dendranthema grandiflora Tzvelev)

“…This indicates the role of environment in expression of genotypes. Similar results were also reported by Kumari et al (2017) in China aster, Satyanarayana et al (2017) in Hibiscus sabdariffa L. High (>20%) PCV and GCV was recorded for number of flowers plant -1 (46.31%, 45.45%), plant height (32.14%, 32.02%), number of branches plant -1 (33.15%, 30.10%), number of leaves plant -1 (31.96%, 31.04%), flower diameter (26.10%, 24.88%) and days to bud initiation (26.08%, GCV: Genotypic Coefficient of variation; PCV: Phenotypic coefficient of variation 25.03%), respectively. The heritability ranged from 82% in number of branches plant -1 to 99% in plant height.…”

“…This provides the actual information on contribution of the characters and thus forms the basis for selection of suitable characters to improve the yield. Similar results have been reported by Kumar et al (2011) in chrysanthemum andVeluru et al (2019) in china aster and number of flowers plant -1 (0.551) in chrysanthemum. From the present study, it may be suggested that yield in term of number of flowers plant -1 could be increased through selection of genotypes on the basis of number of branches plant -1 , number of leaves plant -1 , days to bud initiation and days to optimum flowering in chrysanthemum.…”

“…The knowledge of variability exists in a crop species has important significance to bring about the success in any hybridization programme (Panwar et al, 2013, Sahu andSharma, 2014). Hence, for effective selection, a thorough study on genotypic and phenotypic variability is essential (Kumari et al, 2017). Correlation studies and further partitioning into various components of yield and other characters are rational approaches to understand the nature and magnitude of their relationship (Dey et al, 2021) as the breeders are always interested in the improvement of several economic characters including yield, the knowledge of correlation among the traits is important to have the idea of concurrent changes which would be brought about in other traits while making selection for one trait (Bennurmath et al, 2021).…”

Assessment of genetic variability, character association and path coefficient analysis in Chrysanthemum (Dendranthema x grandiflora Tzvelev)

“…This indicates that phenotypic expression of genotypes may be genetically controlled and environment has slight influence, implying that phenotypic variability could be a reliable measure of genotypic variability. Similar results were also reported by Kumari et al (2017) in China aster and Bennurmath et al (2018) in Chrysanthemum. Higher For flower diameter, PCV estimates was found to be high (20.02%), and a moderate GCV (18.51%), while, days to optimum flowering (17.04% and 15.02%) and flowering duration (18.27% and 16.41%) showed moderate estimates of PCV and GCV, respectively.…”

“…Higher For flower diameter, PCV estimates was found to be high (20.02%), and a moderate GCV (18.51%), while, days to optimum flowering (17.04% and 15.02%) and flowering duration (18.27% and 16.41%) showed moderate estimates of PCV and GCV, respectively. Similar results of higher estimates of PCV and GCV were reported in chrysanthemum (Telem et al, 2017 andHenny et al, 2021), gaillardia (Arulmani et al, 2015) and China aster (Rai et al, 2017, Bhargav et al, 2019and Nataraj et al, 2021.…”