M Sc

The present investigation entitled “Evaluation of tropical radish (Raphanus
sativus L.) genotypes for growth, yield and quality” was carried out at the Department
of Vegetable Science, College of Agriculture, Vellayani from March 2021 to May
2021 to evaluate the performance of tropical radish genotypes for growth, yield,
quality and low pungency.
The experiment was conducted using 20 tropical radish genotypes, which was
laid out in RBD with three replications. Analysis of variance indicated significant
difference for all the characters studied among the twenty genotypes. The highest
plant height was observed for Sungro Purple (40.41 cm) and Chinese Pink (39.43 cm),
Arka Nishant (39.34 cm) and Full Red (39.29 cm) being statistically on par with it.
The genotype Early Mino recorded highest number of leaves (14.22). RS 9 (13.44)
and Chinese Pink (13.44) were on par with it. The highest leaf length was recorded in
Sungro Purple (33.14 cm), which was on par with Punjab Safed 2 (32.41 cm). Early
Mino recorded the highest leaf breadth of 8.78 cm. Early Mino recorded the highest
foliage weight at harvest (118.97 g) which was found to be on par with Sungro Purple
(118.42 g), Punjab Safed 2 (115.54 g) and RS 9 (114.22 g).
Pusa Chetki recorded the highest root length of 22.40 cm and Pusa Chetki Long
(21.32 cm) was found to be statistically on par with it. The highest root diameter was
observed for Pusa Chetki (3.44 cm) and RS 9 (3.42 cm), Thamana (3.34 cm) and Pusa
Mridula (3.27 cm) were on par with it. Pusa Chetki recorded the highest root weight
(126.68 g), root: shoot ratio (1.69) and yield plot-1
(7.04 kg). The genotypes Kashi
Sweta and Pusa Mridula were early with a crop duration of 40 days, while Japanese
White and Early Mino were late with a crop duration of 60 days.
The highest T.S.S content was recorded by Thamana (4.10 °B). Sungro Purple
recorded the highest reducing sugar content of 0.35%. The highest total sugar content
and non reducing sugar content was recorded by Pusa Mridula (8.56 % and 8.41%
respectively). Sensory evaluation revealed the overall acceptability of Pusa Chetki
followed by Pusa Chetki Long over other varieties.
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Moderate phenotypic and genotypic coefficients of variation (PCV and GCV)
were recorded for the characters plant height, leaves per plant, leaf length, leaf breadth
and root length whereas high PCV and GCV estimates were observed for the
characters foliage weight at harvest, root diameter, root weight, root: shoot ratio and
yield plot-1
. High estimates of heritability coupled with high genetic advance as per
cent of mean was recorded for all the yield components, indicating additive gene
action. Root weight exhibited significant positive genotypic and phenotypic
correlation with leaves per plant, root length, root diameter, root: shoot ratio and yield
per plot. Path coefficient analysis of genotypes revealed that root: shoot ratio (0.846)
exerted the highest positive direct effect on root weight followed by foliage weight at
harvest, root diameter, root length, leaves per plant and leaf length.
Selection index of the genotypes were determined based on the characters
having a positive direct effect on root weight, high heritability and high genetic
advance as per cent of mean. The index score for each genotype was calculated based
on six characters viz., leaves per plant, leaf length, foliage weight at harvest, root
length, root diameter and root: shoot ratio. Pusa Chetki ranked first among the
genotypes with a score of 298.20, followed by Pusa Chetki Long (296.28) and RS 9
(282.82).
Based on the mean performance of the genotypes for various characters, sensory
evaluation and selection index score, the top ranking genotypes Pusa Chetki, Pusa
Chetki Long and RS 9 were found suitable for growing in summer season under
Kerala conditions.