Genetic Variability Studies of Common Mellow (Malva sylvestris L.) Genotypes under Kashmir Conditions

The present investigation was carried out at Vegetable Experimental Farm Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, Shalimar, Srinagar during rabi 2009-2010. Genotypes differed significantly for leaf yield and seed yield. Among the genotypes SH-S-3 recorded highest of 60.70 q leaf yield per hectare followed by SH-S-6 (59.73 q/ha) and SH-S-2 (54.59 q/ha). However, highest seed yield was recorded with SH-S-1 (3.46 q/ha) and Shalimar green (3.33 q/ha). The PCV and GCV varied from 17.96 (plant height) to 56.51 (seed yield) and 13.85 (average plant weight) to 56.30 (seed yield), respectively. Heritability in broad sense were found high in all the traits except average plant weight and varied from 59.40 (average plant weight) to 99.30 (seed yield). Similarly, genetic gain was also found high for all the traits except average plant weight. Leaf and seed yield exhibited significant positive correlation with plant height at both genotypic and phenotypic levels. Leaf length exhibited highly positive direct effect on leaf yield followed by plant weight and plant height. Hence, the improvement in the present population could be made through selection procedure and characters like plant height and plant weight shall be taken into consideration while selecting the genotypes for higher leaf yield.