An investigation entitled “Genetic diversity assessment for growth and yield traits in Cauliflower (Brassica oleracea var. botrytisL.)” was conducted at Horticulture Complex, Department of Horticulture, College of Agriculture JNKVV, Jabalpur (M.P.) during the year 2015-16. The mean performance of the genotypes revealed a wide range of variability for all the traits. The variation was highest for total plant weight (572.27-1220.87), curd weight (238.58-508.83), net curd weight (169.80-392.97), marketable curd yield (76.86-169.13), curd yield per hectare (79.21-172.45), curd circumference (9.17-40.40), days to 50% curd formation (25.00-47.33), days to harvest (40.67-59.33) and curd length (3.40-14.88). The phenotypic coefficient of variation were observed to be higher than the corresponding genotypic coefficient of variation for all the characters studied, however the differences was narrow which implied their relative resistance to environmental variation. The phenotypic coefficient of variations was highest for characters viz., curd length, curd circumference, core length, curd width, net curd weight, curd yield per hectare, marketable curd yield, curd yield per plot, total plant weight and curd weight. However, low PCV was exhibited by traits viz., for stalk length at 45 DAT, days to harvest, stalk length at 30 DAT and days to 50% curd formation. High genotypic coefficient of variation was noted for curd length, curd circumference, core length, curd width, net curd weight, curd yield per hectare, marketable curd yield, curd yield per plot, curd weight and total plant weight. While it was observed low in the characters i.e. stalk length at 45 DAT, stalk length at 30 DAT, days to harvest, number of leaves per plant at 15 DAT. The value of heritability (broad sense) was recorded very high for curd length, days to harvest, days to curd initiation, curd circumference, days to 50% curd formation, number of leaves per plant at 45 DAT, curd yield per hectare, marketable curd yield, curd yield per plot. Core length, curd weight, total plant weight, number of leaves per plant at 30 DAT, curd width and net curd weight. Genetic advance as percentage of mean ranged between 13.84% for stalk length at 45 DAT to 103.65% for curd length. The highest estimate of genetic advance as percentage of mean was recorded for curd length, curd circumference, core length, curd width, curd yield per hectare, curd yield per plot, marketable curd yield, net curd weight, curd weight and total plant weight. Stalk length at 45 DAT showed significant and negative correlation with days to curd initiation, days to 50% curd formation and number of leaves per plant at 45 DAT. Number of leaves per plant at 45 DAT showed significant and positive correlation with curd circumference, curd width, days to curd initiation, total plant weight, curd weight, curd length, days to 50% curd formation, core length and days to harvest. Net curd weight showed significant and positive correlation with curd weight.

Download this article as