CHARACTER ASSOCIATION AND PATH ANALYSIS BASED ON MORPHOGENIC TRAITS IN ONION (Allium cepa L.) GENOTYPES

Abstract

The experiment was conducted in the research field of Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka during December 2017 to April 2018 to investigate the character association and path analysis based on morphogenic traits in onion (allium cepa l.) genotypes in field condition. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. Variability, mean performance, heritability, genetic advance, genotypic and phenotypic correlation coefficient and path analysis on different yield contributing characters and yield of onion genotypes were estimated. The highest bulb yield/plant (47.93 g) was recorded in the genotype of Laltir King, whereas the lowest bulb yield/plant (6.44g) from the genotype of BARI Piaj 2. Phenotypic coefficient of variation was higher than the genotypic coefficient of variation for all the yield contributing traits. In case of different varieties following highest heritability order has found; yield per bulb followed by leaf length > root length > plant height > dry weight per bulb > bulb diameter > no. of leaf > root length > bulb length> leaf breadth. In correlation study, yield per bulb positively and significantly correlated with plant height (0.43 and 0.45), root length (0.59 and 0.60), no. of leaves (0.82 and 0.72), leaf length (0.44 and 0.45), leaf breadth (0.47 and 0.48), bulb length (0.84 and 0.78), bulb diameter (0.65 and 0.65) and dry weight per bulb (0.98 and 0.89) at both genotypic and phenotypic levels respectively. Path coefficient analysis revealed that plant height (1.853), no. of leaves (0.11), bulb length (0.59), bulb diameter (0.32) and dry weight per bulb (0.21) had direct positive effect on yield per bulb, indicating these are the main contributors to yield per bulb. The genotypes Laltir king and Faridpuri may be selected for high yield, more dry weight of bulb, maximum bulb length, bulb diameter, no. of leaves, leaf length and plant height.