Studies on genetic variability and character association in temperate carrot

One hundred genotypes including F₁ hybrids of temperate carrot were evaluated to investigate the genetic variability, correlation and path coefficient for eight characters. Analysis of variance showed highly significant differences for all the characters examined. High heritability in association with high genetic advance as percent of mean was observed for top length, gross weight/five plants and net root weight/five plants, indicating additive gene effects and emphasized the effectiveness of selection for these traits. The genetic correlations were higher than corresponding phenotypic ones for most characters implying inherent relationship among them. Net marketable root weight/plot expressed positive and significant genotypic association with top length (0.388), root girth (0.380), gross weight/five plants (0.516), net root weight/five plants (0.701) and gross weight/plot (0.873). Path analysis studies for net marketable root weight/plot revealed that gross weight/plot (0.721) is the most important yield contributing traits followed by net root weight/five plants (0.464) and number of marketable roots/plot (0.231). Hence, due emphasis should be given to these traits while selecting the genotypes for higher yield in carrot.