Estimation of Genetic Varibility for Yield and its Components in Garlic (Allium Sativum L.)

The present study revealed that the phenotypic coefficient of variation was higher than the corresponding genotypic coefficient of variation for all the traits. High phenotypic and genotypic coefficient variation was observed for bulb yield per plant, bulb yield per hectare, bulb yield per plot and average weight of 10 cloves, which suggests greater phenotypic and genotypic variability among the accessions and responsiveness of the attributes for making further improvement by selection. However, days to maturity, number of leaves per plant, at 30, 60 and 90 DAP, leaf length (4^th leaf), plant height at 30 and 90 DAP and polar diameter were exhibited low estimates of phenotypic and genotypic coefficient of variation indicating their limited scope for improvement. High heritability coupled with high genetic advance as percentage of mean was observed for equatorial diameter of bulb, average weight of ten cloves and plant height at 60 DAP which leads to additive gene action and their expression and phenotypic selection for their amenability can be brought about. High heritability with moderate genetic gain was recorded for pseudostem diameter and polar diameter of bulb. High heritability associated with low genetic advance as percentage of mean was exhibited by days to maturity. It may be inferred that this characters was regulated by non-additive gene action and presence of high genotypic x environment interaction and hence simple selection in such case will not be rewarding.