Heritability and genetic advance for effective selection in opium poppy (Papaver somniferum)

Abstract

A study was conducted during 2003–08 to examine the genetic gain and heritability for 5 quantitative traits in different generations of opium poppy (Papaver somniferum L.). For the formulation of effective selection strategy in opium poppy (P. somniferum L.), cyclical process of testing selections, discarding inferior genotypes and retesting the superior selections, i e multistage testing is an essential step for its evaluation. The progenies of randomly selected individuals from 14 promising hybrids were evaluated over F2 to F6 generations for opium and seed yield and their contributing traits, viz capsules/plant, capsule size (cm2), seed yield/plant (g), opium yield/plant (mg) and morphine content. In general heritability and genetic gain declined from generation to generation. A cross between ‘MOP 541’ × ‘BR 241’ showed similar pattern for genetic gain in all the traits. The values of broad sense heritability decreased from F2 to F6 generation for most of the traits.