Studies on performance, genetic variability, heritability and correlation of Dendrobium orchids under agro-climatic conditions of Pasighat, Arunachal Pradesh

An investigation on performance, genetic variability and correlation of dendrobium orchids under agro-climatic condition of Pasighat was performed under low cost poly house. Four varieties namely, TSG, Sonia, Thongchai Gold and Singapore White, were selected for their evaluation. Block of coconut fibre as growing media on raised platform and standardized nutrient mixtures (NPK 19:19:19 and micronutrient at 0.2 per cent) and adequate watering were supplied to the orchid cultivars as per need during entire investigation. Significant response in vegetative and flowering characters was observed in cv. Sonia followed by TSG, Thongchai Gold and Singapore White. Vigorous vegetative growth was observed in cultivar Singapore white followed by Sonia and TSG. While, earliness in flowering (96 days), increased spike length (54.24cm), rachis length (35.38cm) and number of florets per spike (11.40) except vase life was associated with cultivar Sonia. Maximum heritability in broad sense was noticed with plant height, days to harvest of spike followed by vase life and number of leaves per cane. Genetic advance as percent of mean was observed with days to harvest of spike (98.63) followed by vase life (67.51). However, Number of spikes per plant per year and vase life showed significant correlation among various characters at genotypic and phenotypic level.