Kumar

Gerbera (Gerbera jamesonii Bolus ex Hooker F) is an

Therefore, it becomes essential to develop varieties

important commercial cut flower and has a very good

suited to specific climatic condition which can be further

export potential because of its graceful appearance,

utilized for genetic improvement of gerbera. However, no

hardiness and ability to withstand during transportation

systematic efforts were made in the past to identify the

and long shelf life. Crops are extensively grown in

suitable genotypes of gerbera for cut flower production

Assam, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland,

and crop improvement programme under agro-climatic

Tripura, Sikkim and Manipur covering an area 17,034

condition of Pasighat. Hence, the present study on

ha. The commercial cultivation of gerbera for cut flower

different varieties was undertaken to assess their genetic

is gaining much popularity among flower growers for

variability, heritability, genetic advance, correlation

their various colour and form. The introduction and

coefficient and suitability in crop improvement under

popularization of high yielding cultivars of gerbera is

agro-c1imatic conditions of Pasighat, Arunachal Pradesh.

gaining importance which is beneficial for high yield and

better quality under polyhouse condition. A huge quantum

Materials and Methods

of variability exists in this crop with respect to shape,

The study was carried out at Instructional Farm,

size, growth habit, flowering behaviour, vase life etc. In

Department of Floriculture, College of Horticulture

spite of such variability, very few are having desirable

& Forestry, Central Agricultural University, Pasighat,

characters for yield, vase life and flower quality. So, there

Arunachal Pradesh from April 2011 to March 2012.

is an urgent need for selection as well as maintenance

The experiment was laid out in randomized completely

of good germplasm. The interrelationship of various

block design (RCBD) with three replications and nine

characters in the form of correlation is an important

treatments

namely,

Rionegro,

Manizales,

Galileo,

aspect in crop breeding. Knowledge of correlation studies

Marinila, Palmira, Figaro, Teresa, Pia and Tecala for

helps the plant breeder to ascertain the components of

their evaluation under polyhouse condition. Gerbera

yield and provide an effective basis of selection. The

suckers were planted on raised bed comprised with

characters contributing significantly to desirable traits

recommended nutrient mixtures and adequate watering

can be significantly identified and used as alternate

was supplied to the plants during entire investigation.

selection criteria in crop improvement programme. For

Other standard cultural practices were followed as per

effective breeding programme, knowledge of the mean

need for successful crop. Observations were recorded

performance, magnitude of genetic variability, heritability

for number of leaves per plant, length of leaf, breadth of

and genetic advance is essential. Heritability gives a

leaf, plant spread, diameter of flower, diameter of disc,

measure of transmission of characters from one generation

flower stalk length, length of ray floret, days to flower

to the other, enabling a plant breeder in isolation of elite

open after bud emergence, days to harvest stage after

selection in the crop. Genotypic and phenotypic coefficient

flower open, shelf life, diameter of flower stalk, diameter

of variation, heritability and genetic advance constitute

of Neck, number of suckers per plant per year, vase life,

the important genetic parameters which frequently applied

weight of flower head, number of ray florets, number

in plant breeding for crop improvement. Coefficient of

of flowers per sq. m per year and data were analyzed

variation allows meaningful comparison of the variation

as suggested by Gomez and Gomez (2010). Phenotypic

of several traits of plants belonging to the same population

and genotypic coefficient of variation was calculated as

as well as a comparison of the variation of same trait

per formula described by Burton (1952) and Burton and

as expressed by different population. Heritability tells

Devane (1953). Heritability in broad sense was worked

us about the additive genetic variance and phenotypic

out according to formula suggested by Allard (1960)

variance (Nyquist, 1991). Now a day, climatic condition

and genetic advance as per cent of mean was calculated

of north eastern region is highly variable due to climate

following method by Johnson et al., (1955). Phenotypic

change and introduced varieties vary in performance.

and genotypic correlation was computed as suggested by

Performance of gerbera genotypes varies with the region,

Al Jibouri et al., (1958).

season, and other growing conditions (Horn et al., 1974).

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