Vol. 12, Issue 9 (2023)

Author(s):
Muruganandam C, Sajiv G and S Ramesh Kumar

Abstract:
Purslane (Portulaca oleracea L.), a nutrient-rich weed crop, holds promise for global agriculture. This study delves into its genetic characteristics using metrics like Phenotypic Coefficient of Variation (PCV), Genotypic Coefficient of Variation (GCV), heritability (h2), and Genetic Advance as a Percentage of Mean (GAM). Conducted with 15 accessions from Tamil Nadu, India, the research assessed 13 traits encompassing both biometrics and yield. The results of the Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) underscore significant diversity among accessions, crucial for subsequent crop improvement strategies. The consistently higher PCV than GCV values across traits suggest the influence of environmental factors. Heritability values ranging from 28.81 to 99.57 indicate varying degrees of genetic contribution to trait variability. Traits like plant height, number of branches, and yield exhibit high heritability and GAM, indicating the prevalence of additive gene effects. Genotypic correlations were generally stronger than phenotypic correlations, indicating genetic dominance in trait associations. Path analysis elucidated that plant height, fresh weight, and number of leaves play pivotal roles in directly influencing yield. Overall, this study enriches our understanding of trait variability, heritability, and selection prospects for enhancing purslane's agronomic potential.