Genetic variability and character association in ginger (zingiber officinale rosc.)

Abstract

Abstract : Genetic variability, character association and path coefficient analysis among different characters of nineteen ginger (Zingiber officinale Rose.) genotypes were studied. Genetic advance in percentage of mean along with heritability was very high for tillers per plant, plant height, leaf length, leaf breadth, leaves per tiller, number of primary fingers per rhizome, number of secondary fingers per rhizome and number of tertiary fingers per rhizome. Phenotypic Coefficient of Variation was more or less same or little bit higher than Genotypic Coefficient of Variation for all these characters. All the characters except percent dry matter of rhizome showed positive and significant correlation with rhizome yield. Leaves per tiller showed the highest positive direct effect on rhizome yield per plant. Direct selection for this trait would be effective. Plant height showed negative direct effect on yield per plant but positive and high indirect effect via all the characters indicating that a restricted simultaneous selection for this trait may be effective.