Research Note Genetic variability, correlation and path analysis inAshwagandha (Withania som nifera (L.) Dunal)

Forty diverse genotypes of Ashwagandha [ Withania somnifera (L.)Dunal] were e v a l u a t e d f o r 1 2 q u a n t i t a t i v e c h a r a c t e r s . H i g h e r m a g n i t u d e o f g e n o t y p i c and phenotypic coe ffici ent of variation was recorded for lea f wi dth, number of p r i m a r y b r a n c h e s p e r p l a n t , n u m b e r o f s e c o n d a r y b r a n c h e s p e r p l a n t , r o o t l e n g t h , d r y w e i g h t o f r o o t , w i t h a n o l o i d e c o n t e n t a n d s t a r c h c o n t e n t . H i g h h e r i t a b i l i t y i n c o n j u c t i o n w i t h h i g h g e n e t i c a d v a n c e w e r e o b s e r v e d f o r d r y w e i g h t o f r o o t , r o o t l e n g t h , d i a m e t e r o f r o o t a t c o l l a r r e g i o n , w i t h a n o l o i d e c o n t e n t a n d s t a r c h c o n t e n t w h i c h i n d i c a t e d t h a t s e l e c t i o n c o u l d b e e f f e c t i v e f o r t h e s e t r a i t s . T h e e s t i m a t e s o f c o r r e l a t i o n c o e f f i c i e n t r e v e a l e d t h a t t h e g e n o t y p i c c o r r e l a t i o n s w e r e h i g h e r t h a n t h e i r c o r r e s p o n d i n g p h e n o t y p i c c o r r e l a t i o n f o r a l l c h a r a c t e r s . I t w a s o b s e r v e d that root length, dia meter o f root at collar region, plant height, leaf length, lea f width, days to flower initiation and days to maturity showed significant positive a s s o c i a t i o n w i t h d r y w e i g h t o f r o o t a t g e n o t yp i c a s w e l l a s p h e n o t yp i c l e v e l s . P a t h a n a l ys i s r e v e a l e d t h a t p l a n t h e i g h t , d a ys t o m a t u r i t y, d i a m e t e r o f r o o t a t c o l l a r r e gi o n a n d l e a f wi d t h we r e ma j o r c h a r a c t e r s h a vi n g p o s i t i ve d i r e c t e ff e c t a n d s i gn i fi c a n t a s s o c i a t i on wi t h d r y r o o t yi e l d p e r p l a n t . H e n c e s e l e c t i o n fo r t h e s e t r a i t wo u l d b e q u i t e e f f e c t i v e t o i mp r o ve d r y r o o t yi e l d i n Ashwagandha. As h wa gand ha ( With a n ia so mn ifera (L.)Dunal. ) (2 n=4 8 ), also kno wn as Ind ian g inse n g, (poison) gooseberry or winter cherry is a plant of the solanaceaefamily (Mir et al., 2013). It is native o f No rth -Western and Central India as well as Mediterranean regio n of North Africa. It gro ws in dry and sub-tropical regions. In India, two species of genus Withania viz., Withania sornnifera (L.)Dunal (Ashwagandh) and Withania coagulants (L.)Dunal (Panir) a r e f o u n d . A s h w a g a n d h a i s c u l t i v a t e d m a i n l y i n M a d h y a P r a d e s h , R a j a s t h a n , G u j a r a t , M a h a r a s h t r a , P u n j a b a n d U t t a r P r a d e s h , w h e r e a s , Withania coagulants (L.) found in wild. It is late kharif crop and gro ws under dry climate or requires less irrigation for plant gro wth and rainfed cultivation. Mo st l y it is gro wn o n margi nal land s o f Nee m uch a nd Mand saur d istricts o f M a d h y a P r a d e s h a n d K o t a , J h a l a w a r , P r a t a p g a r h , C h i t t o r g a r h a n d B a r a n districts of Rajasthan. Among the various medicinal plants, Ash wagand ha is cultivated o ver an area of 15 ,000 ha ( wi t h a p r o d u c t i o n o f 6 0 , 0 0 0 q / h a a n d p r o d u c t i v i t y o f 4 . 0 0 q / h a ( P a t i d a r ,