Studies on growth analysis and framing selection criteria for high yield and quality traits in turmeric (Curcuma longa L.)

Fifty-five turmeric (Curcuma longa L.) genotypes comprising short, medium and long duration types were evaluated in augmented block design with two checks for growth, yield, and its component characters and quality to ascertain the presence of variability in the population and character association of growth, yield and quality parameters. The study revealed highly significant differences among the genotypes for all traits except total chlorophyll content. The fresh rhizome yield was maximum in the genotype CL 195 (long-duration type) and followed by CL 74 (medium duration type). For curcumin content, short-duration types and medium duration types showed better values, than long-duration types. Among the short duration type, the curcumin content was maximum in the genotype CL 78 (2.79%) whereas, among the medium duration type, CL 22 recorded a curcumin content of 2.55 per cent. The factors, fresh rhizome yield and quality were optimum in the genotype CL 49 (short duration type), CL 22 (medium duration type), and CL 74 (long-duration type) owing to good values for overall growth parameters. The polygenic trait, yield showed a highly significant positive correlation with the characters viz., the weight of primary rhizomes per plant, the weight of mother rhizomes per plant and leaf area. All the biometric and qualitative traits observed had a positive association with fresh rhizome yield except essential oil and curing per cent ensuring simultaneous improvement of these characteristics. The path coefficient study suggested that the characters viz., the weight of primary rhizomes per plant, the weight of mother rhizomes per plant, the weight of secondary rhizomes per plant, leaf area, plant height, pseudostem girth and curcumin content had a significant positive direct effect on rhizome yield levering more weightage for these characters in the further breeding program. The other quality traits had a relatively poor influence on yield. As short and medium duration genotypes of turmeric are advantageous over long duration types, the best performing short and medium duration types can be used for further crop improvement programme in turmeric.