Assessment of genetic variability and heritability in diverse accessions of Wild Noni (Morinda tomentosa Heyne ex Roth) in North Gujarat

Genetic variability and heritability for morphological and phytochemical attributes were studied in Morinda tomentosa. The magnitude of genotypic coefficient of variation was higher for all but number of seeds per fruit, flavonol content in leaf, number of branches per plant, flavonol content in fruit, fruit length, total soluble sugar, plant height, ascorbic acid content in fruit and fruit width indicating lesser role of environment in the expression of the traits. The broad sense heritability was higher for all but fruit width indicating explicit realization of heritable variance and thereby offering abundant chances of improvement in those characters by simple selection. The higher estimates of genetic advance with high heritability for total phenol content in leaf, carotenoid content in leaf and fruit inferred role of additive gene action in the expression of these traits that further corroborated phenotypic selection based on these traits to be more effective.