Genetic variability, characters association and path analysis in exotic lines of cabbage under mid hill, sub-humid conditions of Himachal Pradesh

Twenty-five genetically diverse lines of cabbage were studied for the assessment of variability and inter-association of phenotypic characters. Significant differences were observed among the genotypes for all the characters. The genotypic correlation coefficients were higher in magnitude than the corresponding phenotypic ones, thereby suggesting strong inherent association between various characters studied. The marketable head yield had positive and significant association with gross weight per plant, net weight of head, non-wrapper leaves and compactness of head thereby indicating that these traits had certain inherent relationships with yield. The net weight of head had the highest direct effect on head yield followed by compactness, marketable head (%), stalk length and nonwrapper leaves while, gross weight and head shape contributed indirectly towards head yield via net weight and gross weight, respectively. Thus, the present study suggests that net weight of head should be given utmost importance in selection programme aimed at breeding high yielding cabbage varieties. Due importance must also be given to head compactness, marketable head (%), nonwrapper leaves and gross weight in the selection programme.