Genetic diversity studies among marigold hybrids (Tagetes erecta L.)

Abstract

The present investigation was carried out at Jarvi Seeds Private Limited, Bharadia, Bharuch, Gujarat, during the winter season of 2024-2025 using 34 exotic African marigold hybrids, procured from Thailand and China. The analysis of variance revealed highly significant differences among the hybrids for all yield and yield-contributing traits. It was observed that, for all the traits studied, the PCV values exceeded their corresponding GCV values, but differences were less in majority of cases indicated that environmental factors had played less influence on the expression of these characters. The traits viz., plant height, average flower weight, branches per plant, flowers per plant flower yield per plant, days to first bud initiation, and flower diameter exhibited high heritability coupled with high/moderate genetic advance as a per cent of mean. Flower yield per plant was significantly and positively correlated with flower diameter, average flower weight, number of branches per plant and number of flowers per plant. This indicated that flower yield in marigold can be improved by direct selection of these characters. Maximum positive direct effect towards flower yield per plant was contributed by days to first bud initiation followed by number of flowers per plant, average flower weight of flower. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) indicated that among the nine characteristics examined, only two demonstrated principal components eigenvalues (PCs) exceeding 1 collectively accounting for approximately 68.62% of the cumulative variability among the studied traits.