Genetic Variability Studies of Vegetable Amaranth (Amaranthus spp.) for Productivity Traits

Aims: In the present investigation 60 different genotypes of vegetable amaranth were analysed for genetic variability in productivity traits and noticeable range of variability were reported in herbage yield and quality.

Study Design: The layout of experimental plot was prepared according to augmented block design II (Federer, 1956).

Place and Duration of Study: The experiment was conducted in Department of Vegetable Science, College of Horticulture, Bengaluru, UHS, Bagalkot, Karnataka during summer i.e., from January 2020 to March, 2022.

Methodology: The experiment consisted of 60 vegetable amaranth genotypes that were collected from KRCCH, Arabhavi, NBPGR New-Delhi, TNAU, Coimbtore and some local collections, the whole plot was divided into 4 blocks, wherein, each block contained 19 beds of 1m × 1m dimension, each representing different genotypes including four check varieties. The genotypes were sown in line at the spacing of 20 cm, accommodating 10 plants per line and hence each bed accommodated 50 plants. All growth and yield parameters were recorded in five randomly selected and tagged plants of each genotype and mean was worked out for further statistical analysis. Variability parameters were worked out as per method given by Burton and Devane [1], heritability in broad sense and genetic advance as percent of mean was calculated according to the formula given Johnson et al. [2].

Results: The phenotypic coefficient of variation and genotypic coefficient of variation was maximum for number of leaves, stem weight (g), Stem to leaf ratio, herbage yield per plant (g), herbage yield per plot (kg), leaf area per plant (cm2) and leaf size (cm2) minimum in case of plant height and stem thickness as shown in table. High heritability was observed for all the traits, except plant height and stem thickness maximum was recorded for Herbage yield per hectare (99.45 %) and minimum was observed for stem thickness (1.07%). High heritability (h2 = 99.45%) with high genetic advance (GA=92.47%) as percentage of mean was observed for herbage yield per hectare which indicated that additive gene effects were more important for that trait. High genetic advance as per cent of mean was observed for herbage yield per plant (g) however, lowest for stem thickness (0.27)

Conclusion: Results indicates the preponderance of additive genes and selection will be effective for improvement of these traits having high heritability with genetic advance as percent of mean.