Evaluation of Lettuce Genotypes for Growth and Yield Attributes in Kashmir Valley

The experiment was conducted during 2006 and 2007 at Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences & Technology (K), Shalimar, with 25 genotypes of lettuce. Among all the genotypes, LS-2 proved significantly superior to rest of the genotypes in terms of yield (362.60 g/plant) and most of the yield attributing characters. It was statistically comparable with LS-17 (342.31 g/plant). The genotypes LS-11 exhibited highest plant height of 29.09 cm where as maximum plant spread was recorded in LC-4 (37.37cm) followed by LS-15 (37.01cm) and LS-2 (35.98 cm). The genotypes LS-2 (49.26), LS-15 (47.16) and LC-5 (45.46) gave maximum number of leaves/plant, whereas average leaf weight was highest in LS-18 (11.54 g). The leaf area was maximum in SS-12 (246.84 cm²) followed by LS-18 (242.90 cm²). Genotype LS-11 and LS-17 were early in picking recording the value of 45 days under the investigation during individual as well as on pooled data basis. LC-18 and LS-19 were late in picking which took 53 days and 60 days, respectively, with less picking duration of 16 days on pooled data and individual basis. The LS-2 genotype can be recommended for cultivation in this area as they are high yielding and early in picking and given good performance during winter as well as in summer.