Genetic Variability, Heritability and Genetic Advance in Varieties of Carrot (Daucus carota L.)

Investigations were carried out on yield and quality of sixteen varieties and six hybrids of carrot under two seasons in Nilgiri conditions during the year 2012-2013. The varieties were evaluated for per se performance, genotypic co-efficient of variances, heritability and genetic advance. Analysis of variance revealed the existence of significant differences among the varieties studied for all the characters. Based on the per se performance and variance, the variety Tokita Kuroda improved was found to be the best with respect to growth, yield and quality attributes followed by Century Super Kuroda. In varieties high estimate of genotypic co-efficient of variation was observed for ischolar_main splitting percentage, total chlorophyll, ischolar_main carotene, leaf carotene and ischolar_main forking percentage which indicates the potential possibility on improvement of these traits by restoring simple selection programme during Kharif and summer. The characters viz., leaf carotene, ischolar_main carotene, total chlorophyll, number of leaves and ischolar_main weight exhibited higher values of heritability coupled with genetic advance as percent of mean revealed that they may possibly controlled by additive genes. Hence, direct selection may be adopted to improve the characters under consideration during Kharif and summer, respectively.