A Study of the Genetic Variability of West Indian Arrowroot ( Maranta arundinacea L.) in Kerala State of India

Abstract

See, stats, and : https ://www. researchgate. net/ publication/ 308114369 A arrowroot (Maranta .) in state Article DOI : 10 . 11648 / j . aff . 20160505 . 17 CITATIONS 0 READS 5 3 , including : Shintu . V . University 4 SEE Mohanan . V . University 26 SEE All - text , letting . Available : Shintu . V . Retrieved : 24 Agriculture , Forestry and Fisheries 2016 ; 5 (5) : 186 - 190 Abstract : West Indian arrowroot (Maranta arundinacea L .) is a major component of family farming in Kerala state of India . The starch obtained from its rhizomes is used both for food and nutraceutical purposes . A study was carried out to assess the genetic variability of West Indian arrowroot in the region in relation to morphological growth and yield characters . Sixty accessions collected from farmer homesteads were grown in the experimental garden and assessed for variability in terms of phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) , genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV) , heritability (H 2) and genetic advance (GA) . High estimates of PCV , GCV , heritability and genetic advance in the case of the characters studied indicated the presence of substantial variability in the genetic resources of this important crop in the study area and also the scope for selection for crop improvement and release of promising varieties . Yield per plant showed the highest range of performance followed by starch content and leaf area . The minimum range of performance was observed for diameter of primary fingers . Wide range of characters indicates the involvement of higher number of contributing alleles and higher involvement of environmental factors in the expression of the character whereas narrow range indicates the involvement of lower number of contributing alleles and lesser involvement of environment . Heritability of characters varied from 16 . 69% to 99 . 22% and the highest heritability was shown by starch content , which was followed by plant height (79 . 08%) and yield per plant (72 . 13%) . Genetic advance was found to be the maximum for starch content followed by number of primary fingers and number of tillers . The results indicate the occurrence of broad genetic base in the case of the Indian arrowroot populations studied and also the feasibility of selection of superior genotypes in Maranta arundinacea based on the characters that show broad range of variation .