Performance and genetic variability studies of common mallow (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 kharief 2005–08. Common mallow genotypes differed significantly for leaf yield and other traits under study. Phenotypic coefficient of variation was higher than genotypic coefficient of variability for the traits viz., plant height, average leaf length, average leaf breadth and leaf size while lower genotypic coefficient of variability for the traits viz., number of leaves per plant, average leaf weight and leaf yield. The PCV ranged from 29.62 for average leaf breadth to 67.21 for plant height while GCV varied from 2.21 for average leaf length to 66.37 for number of leaves per plant. Heritability in broad sense was found high for all the traits suggesting that selection based on phenotypic performance would be effective. Maximum genetic gain was exhibited by plant height followed by number of leaves per plant, average leaf weight, leaf yield, average leaf length, leaf size and average leaf breadth. The magnitude of genotypic correlation was higher than the corresponding phenotypic correlation indicating that genotypes are superior but their expression is leasing under the influence of environment. Leaf yield exhibited significant positive correlation with plant height both at genotypic and phenotypic levels while exhibited highly significant positive correlation with average leaf length, average leaf weight, average leaf breadth and leaf size. Path coefficient is an important method for estimating the association between traits with cause and effect i.e., the direct and indirect basis of association. Interestingly average leaf size turned to be major contributor to the leaf yield because it had positive direct effect (1.353) followed by average leaf weight (1.188), number of leaves per plant (0.709) and plant height (0.209), thus are the important yield contributing traits.