Unravelling the Genetic Potential of Buckwheat Genotypes through Yield and Yield Attributing Parameters in Semi-tropical Climate of India

Abstract

In this comprehensive study on buckwheat genotypes conducted in the semi-tropical region of Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, India during the rabi, 2021 growing season, a range of critical agronomic traits, including plant height, flowering time, days to maturity, test weight, and economic yield, were systematically analyzed. The analysis of variance highlighted the significance of both replicates and treatments in explaining variations across these traits. The genotypes exhibited remarkable diversity, with notable differences in plant height, with IC-26755 exhibiting the tallest plants at 99.75 cm, while IC-582972 displayed the shortest at 14.93 cm. Moreover, flowering time varied widely, with IC-582972 and IC-329201 being non-flowering genotypes. These variations in plant height and flowering time can have significant implications for crop management and breeding strategies. Assessment of genetic variability and genetic advancement underscored the substantial potential for improving traits such as economic yield and days to flowering through selective breeding efforts. Genetic coefficients of variation (GCV) and phenotypic coefficients of variation (PCV) were calculated, with "Economic yield" displaying the highest values, signifying significant inherent variability among genotypes for this trait.Phenotypic and genotypic correlation analyses unveiled intriguing relationships among traits, offering valuable insights for crop management and breeding strategies. There were strong positive correlations between days to 50% flowering and total weight, suggesting that genotypes taking more time to flower tend to produce greater total weight.Phenotypic and genotypic path analyses further elucidated the intricate interplay of traits, providing actionable insights for trait improvement through selective breeding. In the phenotypic path analysis, it was observed that total biomass fraction had a direct positive effect on days to 50% flowering and days to 80% maturity, suggesting that genotypes with higher biomass fractions tend to have later flowering and maturity.