GENETIC AND PHENOTYPIC CORRELATION OF SOME ONION (ALLIUM CEPA L.) BULB TRAITS

In order to investigate the structure of correlation of onion features, a trial was set up on the experimental plot in the Centre for Vegetable Crops in Smederevska Palanka during 2000 and 2001. The trial has been performed by applying the method of randomized block design with five replications. Ten cultivars of different geographical origins were used. Recorded values of the examined characteristics were determined by applying the variance analysis of a two-factorial trial - model 2 (Hadzivukovic, 1991). The researched traits were: fresh bulb weight, yield, diameters, height, dry matter content, total sugar and mineral content in the onion bulb. The investigated genotypes showed a great variability regarding the correlation coefficient. Yield, diameter and fresh weight of bulb had high positive both genetic and phenotypic correlation values, while dry matter content, total sugar and mineral content in onion bulb had high statistically significant genetic correlations but low phenotypic correlations.