Kumar

governing two traits are similar and environmental

length, shelf life, vase life and fresh weight of flower

conditions pertaining to the expression of these traits

head were not significantly correlated with number of

have small and similar effects. A positive correlation

leaves per plant. Nair and Shiva (2003) also observed

between desirable characters is favourable to the plant

positive correlation between numbers of leaves with

breeder because it helps in simultaneous improvement

flower diameter in gerbera. Length of leaf was highly

of both the characters. High positive correlation between

significant and positive correlation with breadth of leaf (

the traits indicates that selection for improvement of

0.625), plant spread (0.647), flower stalk length (0.582),

one character leads to the simultaneous improvement in

days to harvest stage after flower open ( 0.568), diameter

the other characters depending upon the magnitude of

of neck (0.527) and number of ray florets (0.544) but

association between them. The characters are considered

highly significant negative correlation with shelf life

to be independent when weak correlation exists between

(-0.746), vase life (-0.426) and fresh weight of flower

them and selection for a character may not affect the other

head (-0.396) was observed. However, breadth of leaf

(Falconer, 1981). Whereas, genotypic correlation provides

was highly significant and positive correlation with plant

a measure of genetic association between characters and is

spread (0.582), flower stalk length (0.377), number of

generally used in selection for one character as a measure

suckers per plant (0.376) and number of flowers per

of improving another. The genotypic correlation in the true

sq. m per year (0.408). While, highly significant but

sense may be interpreted as the correlation of breeding

negative correlation with diameter of disc (-0.383) and

value. The magnitude of genotypic correlation was higher

shelf life (-0.419) were noticed. Plant spread showed

than their corresponding phenotypic correlation for most

highly significant and positive correlation with diameter

of the traits, indicating thereby, a strong inherent linkage

of flower (0.500), flower stalk length (0.772), length of

between various traits under study. Similar trend has been

ray floret (0.797), diameter of neck (0.702) and number

observed by Anuradha (1998) in gerbera for most of the

of ray florets (0.519). Singh and Kumar (2008) also

characters; these findings indicate that though there is

reported highly significant and positive correlation plant

strong inherent association between various characters,

spread and diameter of flower in marigold.However,

the phenotypic expression is reduced under the influences

highly significant but negative correlation was associated

of environment. In some cases, phenotypic and genotypic

with shelf life (-0.597). Diameter of flower was highly

correlations were very close indicating less environmental

significant and positively correlated with diameter of

influences. Anuradha and Gowda (2002) and Magar et al.,

disc (0.433), flower stalk length (0.556), length of ray

(2010) have also reported higher genotypic correlation

floret (0.714), diameter of flower stalk (0.625), diameter

coefficient than phenotypic correlation coefficient among

of neck (0.446), fresh weight of flower head (0.577)

the various traits in gerbera.

and positively significant with number of ray florets

(0.348), while, vase life showed highly significant with

Genotypic level

negative correlation (-0.459) but significant with negative

correlation was associated with shelf life (-0.306). Similar

At genotypic level, number of leaves per plant (table 2)

findings have also been reported by Baweja (2000) in

exhibited positive significant correlation with diameter of

china aster and Verma et al., (2008) in rose. Sirohi and

flower (0.309) and number of flowers per sq. m per year

Behera (1999) also observed flower diameter had positive

(0.504) but on the other hand, attained highly significant

and highly significant association with number of ray

but negative correlation with length of leaf (-0.530), days

florets in chrysanthemum. Diameter of disc was highly

to harvest stage after flower open (-0.542), diameter of

significant and showed positive correlation with shelf life

flower stalk (-0.394), diameter of neck (-0.390). The

(0.428) and fresh weight of flower head (0.516), whereas,

number of leaves per plant also showed significant

significant but positive correlation was observed with

negative correlation with days to flower open after bud

number of ray florets (0.330). Flower stalk length had

emergence (-0.348) and number of ray florets (-0.315).

highly significant but positive correlation with length of

However, plant spread, diameter of disc, flower stalk

ray floret (0.614) and diameter of neck (0.577), whereas,

530