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Plant Science Today (PST)

Review Articles

Vol. 13 No. 2 (2026)

Genetic variability, correlation and path analysis studies in onion (Allium cepa L.)

DOI
https://doi.org/10.14719/pst.12891
Submitted
23 November 2025
Published
04-05-2026 — Updated on 13-05-2026
Versions

Abstract

Onion (Allium cepa L.) is a commercially significant vegetable and spice crop cultivated worldwide. The present investigation aimed to study the evaluation of genetic variability among onion genotypes for further utilisation in onion crop improvement. The present investigation was undertaken in the Vegetable Research Farm of the Division of Vegetable Science, SKUAST Chatha, Jammu, Jammu and Kashmir, with the specific objectives to estimate genetic variability, correlation and path coefficient analysis of 25 onion genotypes. The experiment was laid out in a randomised complete block design (RCBD) with 3 replications during the rabi season (2024–2025). The results indicated that PCV values were consistently higher than GCV values for all traits under study, which signified the presence of environmental influence on the expression of traits. Perusal of genetic variability parameters revealed high heritability coupled with high genetic gain for seven traits, viz., bolting percentage, bulb neck thickness, bulb yield per plot, total bulb yield, bulb polar diameter, bulb shape index and average bulb weight, exhibiting the preponderance of additive gene action on the traits and thus may be useful for selection. Analysis of the correlation matrix revealed positive and significant correlation of total bulb yield with 8 traits, i.e., plant height, pseudostem length, bulb neck thickness, bulb polar diameter, bulb equatorial diameter, average bulb weight, days to bolting and bulb yield per plot and negative and significant correlation with days to maturity. The path coefficient analysis revealed that bulb yield per plot exhibited the highest positive direct effect on total bulb yield, followed by average bulb weight, days to maturity, bulb shape index, pseudostem length, plant height, number of leaves per plant and ascorbic acid content. The findings of the study suggested that the identified traits can be considered as reliable selection indices for yield improvement in onion.

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