Assessing Genetic Variability and Heritability in Genotypes of Garlic (Allium sativum L.) for Bulb Yield and Related Traits

Assessing the genetic diversity of crop species is one of the main objectives of plant breeding since it helps with the creation of breeding strategies. Thus, the purpose of this field experiment was to evaluate the genetic diversity and mean performance of garlic genotypes on bulb yield and associated variables. The field evaluation of nineteen garlic genotypes and one released variety HL was conducted at Kulumsa Agricultural Research Center using a randomized complete block design with three replications during the main growing seasons of 2020 and 2021. The analysis of variance indicated there were significant differences among the genotypes for all traits except days to physiological maturity in 2020 season, while only some growth and yield traits are significant in 2021 production season. Some of the genotypes GOG-065/18, GOG-057/18, GOG-047/18, GOG-064/18, GOG-068/18, GOG-045/18, and GOG-018/18 had mean performances higher than the standard check variety HL. The highest significant bulb yield was observed on the genotype G-067/18 (9.63 t ha-1) and GOG-057/18 (9.90 t ha-1) in 2020 and 2021 season respectively. Highest phenotypic (PCV) and genotypic (GCV) coefficients of variation recorded for total bulb yield tons per hectare and number of cloves per bulb, while the days to physiological maturity had the lowest heritability (h2b) in broad sense and genetic advance as a percent of mean (GAM), 67% and 33.89% (total bulb yield per hectare) and 1.13% to 0.08% (day to physiological maturity) respectively. High phenotypic and genotypic coefficients of variation attached with high heritability and genetic advance as percent of mean were observed for total bulb yield tons per hectare number of cloves per bulb and clove weight. Therefore, selection for these characters would be effective for selecting genotypes for future garlic breeding programs.