Morphological and Molecular Characterization of Greater Yam Dioscorea alata L Germplasm

Abstract

newline The present investigation entitled quotMorphological and Molecular Characterization of Greater yam (DioscoreaalataL.) Germplasmquot was conducted during Kharif season of2018 and 2019 at the Hi-Tech Unit, Department of Horticulture, Rajasthan College of Agriculture, MPUAT, Udaipur. For this purpose, thirty genotypes of greater yam were collected from different places. newlineFive randomly selected plants for each genotype were considered for observations of different characters viz., days to emergence, days to first leaf emergence, number of leaves (30 DAE), number of sprouts per seed tuber, vine length at harvest, internode length, vine length at harvest, leaf width, petiole length, tuber length, tuber diameter, number of tuber per vine, tuber weight, stem girth, tuber yield per vine, starch, ascorbic acid, moisture, TSS, total sugar, total phenol and dry matter. Thirty genotypes of greater yam were used for accessing the GCV, PCV, heritability, genetic advance, correlation coefficient analysis, path analysis, genetic diversity analysis and molecular diversity analysis.High heritability with high genetic advance was recorded for vine length at harvest. High heritability with moderate genetic advance was recorded for number of leaves. Therefore, these characters can aid in selection programme. newlineThe result from character association indicate that the tuber yield per vine showed highly significant and positive correlation with tuber length, no. of leaves 30 DAE, weight of tuber, tuber diameter, vine length at harvest, no. of secondary branches, petiole length, leaf width, total phenol and total sugar.It showed significant negative correlation with no. of tuber per vine.At genotypic level, vine length at harvest showed the highest positive direct effect followed by tuber length Thirtygenotypes grouped into eight cluster in first year and second year while, four cluster in pooled analysis of these two years (2018 and 2019) revealing considerable amount of genetic diversity among the genotypes. newlineRAPD and ISSR were used fo