Vol. 12, Issue 3 (2023)

Author(s):
Vikram Jambhale, Vilas Awari, Adheer Aher, Kiran Shinde and Gaurav Pagire

Abstract:
The investigation on “Assessment of genetic variability in Ocimum spp.” was conducted on 27 genotypes of Ocimum spp. to know the variability, interrelationship among yield and its components, their direct and indirect effects on dry leaves weight and genetic divergence of various Ocimum spp. genotypes. Observations were recorded for days to 50 per cent flowering, plant height, number of primary branches per plant, number of secondary branches per plant, number of inflorescences per plant, length of inflorescence, number of flowers per inflorescence, plant spread, 1000 seed weight, green leaves weight per plant, dry leaves weight per plant. Green leaves weight per plant exhibited highest range of variability followed by plant height, dry leaves weight per plant, number of secondary branches, number of inflorescences per plant, number of flowers per inflorescence, days to 50 per cent flowering. The variability was lowest for 1000 seed weight, length of inflorescence, number of primary branches. Dry leaves weight showed strong significant and positive correlation with green leaves weight, plant spread, number of secondary branches, number of primary branches, plant height, number of inflorescences per plant and number of flowers per inflorescence. Dry leaves weight showed significant negative correlation with days to 50 per cent flowering at both genotypic and phenotypic level. Path coefficient analysis revealed that green leaves weight had highest direct effect on dry leaves weight followed by number of primary branches, number of secondary branches, plant height and plant spread. These direct effects are mainly responsible for positive association of these character with dry leaves weight. number of inflorescences, length of inflorescence, and 1000 seed weight had negative direct effect on dry leaves weight. The D² statistics showed that there was adequate diversity among the genotypes. Based on D² values 27 genotypes studied were grouped into three clusters. Based on inter cluster distance and cluster means the genotypes viz., lavang tulsi, ran tulsi, AB-10, sabja tulsi, OS-8, OS-5, Krishna tulsi were identified for their use in hybridization program.