Vol. 11, Issue 12 (2022)

The present investigation entitled “Studies on growth, yield, productivity and quality of promising lines of ashwagandha (Withania somnifera L.)” was undertaken to identify superior lines based on growth, yield, productivity and quality characters for root yield and yield components of ashwagandha. Fifteen (15) promising lines were sown in a Randomized Block Design with three replications during late kharif, 2021 at P.G. Research Block, College of Horticulture, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad, Sri Konda Laxman Telangana State Horticultural University. The analysis of variance (ANOVA) of RBD revealed highly significant differences among the promising lines for all the twenty-eight characters studied. The promising line IC-286632 was significantly superior for yield and yield attributing characters i.e., root diameter (2.19 cm), fresh root weight of the plant (33.06 g), fresh root weight per plot (0.99 kg), fresh root weight per hectare (16.52 q), dry root yield per plant (14.51 g), dry root yield per plot (0.44 kg), dry root yield per hectare (7.26 q).The promising line NMITLI-101 was significantly superior for plant height (111.39 cm), leaf length (12.44 cm), fresh leaf weight per plant (213.02 g), dry leaf weight per plant (63.21 g) and main root length (24.67 cm). The promising line RAS-65 was found to be superior for berry diameter (0.75 cm), number of seeds per berry (41.09), seed yield per plant (9.64 g), seed yield per plot (0.29 kg) and seed yield per hectare (4.81 q). The promising line Poshita recorded highest starch content (15.39%) and high starch: fiber ratio (0.48). CIM-Chetak recorded high alkaloid content (0.45%) which was on par with IC-286632(0.43%). Considering, the mean performances, seven promising lines IC-286632, NMITLI-101, NMITLI-118, RAS-65, CIM-CHETAK, MWS-218 along with check POSHITA with high yield and quality components were found to be superior and may be utilized further in crop improvement programmes.