Genetic variability, correlation and path coefficient among bulb yield and yield traits in Ethiopian garlic germplasm

Abstract

Variability and correlation among bulb yield and yield related traits of twenty five local garlic accessions was studied at Chilga, North Gondar Zone, Ethiopia during 2005 and 2006. Highly significant differences (P<0.01) among accessions were recorded for yield and its contributing characters, whereas harvest index showed significant (P<0.05) variation. Moreover, very little difference was found in between genotypic and phenotypic coefficient of variation indicating the variability among accessions were mainly characterized by their genetic constitution, whereas the environmental influence was very low. Comparatively high heritability coupled with high expected genetic advance as percent of mean was recorded for bulb dry weight, dry weight above ground, yield per plant, biological yield per plant, plant height, leaf length, weight of clove and cloves per bulb. Bulb yield per plant showed positive and significant phenotypic correlation with all characters except harvest index and days to maturity. Genotypic correlations were higher in magnitude than that of phenotypic correlations for the majority of the characters studied. Path coefficient analysis revealed that all characters except leaf length, dry weight above ground and bulb dry weight exerted positive direct effect on bulb yield per plant at phenotypic level. The low residual value indicated that the characters used were enough to explain their contribution and effects on bulb yield per plant in garlic towards yield.