Knowing the estimated genetic parameters and the relationship between yield and associated traits is pivotal to successful shallot breeding. The study’s objectives were to observe the effect of colchicine on the growth and yield characteristics of shallot (Allium cepa), investigate the genetic variability of shallot in the first generation, and determine the selection criteria for the shallot improvement program. The shallot bulbs received colchicine treatments ranging from 0, 100, 200, 300, and 400 ppm. The variance analysis revealed that colchicine treatments highly affected the shallot growth and yield characteristics in varying significance. It demonstrated that colchicine treatments were potent in inducing mutation and creating variability among populations of shallot; hence, it can be beneficial for shallot improvement. The highest values of the genotypic coefficient of variance, heritability, and genetic advance were evident in the 200-ppm population. Therefore, this study only recommends pursuing the 200-ppm population for the next generations. Path analysis exhibited that the trait of bulb fresh weight per clump had a high positive direct effect with bulb dry weight per clump, indicating its usefulness as a selection criterion for developing shallot genotypes with high-yielding next generations.
Shallot (Allium cepa), colchicine, heritability, path analysis
The 200-ppm population had a higher genotypic coefficient of variation, broad sense heritability, and genetic advance than other mutated populations in the shallot (Allium cepa). The bulb fresh weight per clump trait can serve as selection criteria for developing shallot genotypes with high-yielding next generation having a high positive direct effect and heritability values.