Multivariate analysis of yield associated traits in Safed musli (Chlorophytumborivilianum) genotypes under semi-arid conditions

The study on the genetic variability, association between traits and direct and indirect effects of different traits on root yield of safed musli is required for the development of high yielding varieties. Hence, the interrelationship of 17 quantitative traits (leaf width, leaf length, No. of leaves/plant, leaf area, No. of capsules/inflorescence, No. of seeds, No. of inflorescences/tuber, length of inflorescences, size of seeds, No. of flowers/inflorescence, floral width, No. of tubers, tuber length, tuber girth, fresh weight of tubers) in 52 safed musli genotypes of were evaluated at ICAR-DMAPR during 2015 and 2016. Standard deviation and analysis of variance revealed high genetic variation among studied genotypes for all traits in which coefficient of variation ranged from 205.52 (leaf area) to 19.57 (floral width). Based on mean performance DCB-48 (129 g), DCB-17 (110.2 g), DCB-18 (108 g), DCB-5 (107.6 g), DCB- 37 (105 g) were the top five genotypes for fresh tuber yield per plant. Pearson correlation coefficient showed the positive and significant relation of number of tubers per plant (0.83), and tuber length (0.77) with yield (tuber FW). According to path analysis, number of tubers (0.84) possessed the highest positive direct effect followed by leaf width (0.14) and size of seeds (0.11 mm) on dependent variable yield (tuber fresh weight) of safed musli. The result of stepwise regression analysis revealed that tuber length and tuber girth has considerable effects on tuber yield.