Studies on genetic variability in radish (Raphanus sativus L.)

The study was undertaken with twenty five diverse type genotypes of radish for mean, genetic variability, heritability and genetic advance in respect of fourteen quantitative characters. The analysis of variance indicates highly significant differences in all the characters except for leaf: root length ratio. The range of variation was high for leaf size followed by leaf weight per plant, root size, plant height and leaf length, whereas, narrowest range was observed for leaf: root weight ratio, root thickness and leaf shape. The genotypic and phenotypic variance were high for leaf size, leaf weight, root weight, root size, plant height and leaf length. Leaf: root weight ratio, leaf size, root weight and root size had high genotypic and phenotypic coefficient of variation value, which indicating the nature and genetic variability for these characters. The magnitude of heritability ranged from 15.4 (leaf: root length ratio) to 97.8 percent (root size). High heritability along with high genetic advance observed for root size followed by leaf weight, leaf: root weight ratio, leaf size, leaf length and root weight, which indicate that these characters had additive gene effects and therefore, these were more reliable for effective selection.