Character association and path analysis in garlic (Allium sativum L.)

A field trial was carried out with twenty-one genotypes of garlic for two years at Pantnagar. Results revealed the significant and positive correlation of bulb yield both at genotypic and phenotypic levels with bulb weight, clove weight, bulb diameter, clove length, leaf area index and neck diameter during both the years. Genotypic correlations were higher than their corresponding phenotypic values for most of the character combinations establishing predominant role of heritable traits. During both the years, significant negative correlations of bulb yield at genotypic level were observed with purple blotch severity index (-0.61 9 and-0.691) and number of cloves per bulb (-0.58 and -0.61 9). Positive direct effect of bulb weight, clove length and leaf area index during both the years indicate good scope for improvement in bulb yield by selecting the genotypes bearing bigger and heavier bulbs and cloves along with broad leaves.