1Division of Floriculture and Landscaping, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi -110012.
2Division of Genetics, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi -110012, e-mail: namitabanyal@yahoo.co.in.
The present investigation conducted on 11 selections of French marigold (Tagetes patula) showed significant, Ufferences in all the characters studied. The French Selection 1 (Fr. Sel.1) exhibited maximum mean performance for flower yield (370.33 g) while minimum was exhibited by Cherry Red (144.5 g). The coefficient of variation was minimum for number of seeds per head (GCV =12.15, PCV =13.66) and maximum for number of flowers per plant (GCV =40.23, PCV =42.70). Heritability estimates for all the characters were generally moderate to high. High heritability was observed for days to flowering (94.89) whereas moderate heritability was observed for 1000 seed weight (53.84). High heritability along with high genetic advance was observed for flower yield (h2 =81.49. GA =117.87) and number of flowers per plant (h2 =88.75, GA =75.42). High genetic advance as per cent mean was observed for number of flowers per plant (78.08). However, low genetic advance as per cent mean was observed for 1000 seed weight (18.37).
French marigold, genetic advance, heritability, variability
