Variability and Inter-Relationships between Yield and Associated Traits in Taro (Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott)

The genetic variability and inter-relationships between yield and associated traits in some taro (Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott) genotypes were investigated in two years across two locations. The experiment was laid out as randomized complete block design with three replications in each location. Data were collected on the growth and yield attributes of taro. The genetic variability of the attributes measured in both locations was studied to estimate the genotypic (GCV) and phenotypic (PCV) coefficients of variation, broad sense heritability (h2b) and genetic advance (GA). Considering GCV, h2b and GA simultaneously as the best estimators of the amount of advance expected from selection, number of secondary shoots/plant and number of leaves/plant gave the highest values in each of the locations. This shows that a satisfactory selection program for improvement of these genotypes through these traits is possible at each specific location. Correlation analysis showed that all the traits measured were significantly and positively correlated with taro yield except corm and cormel lengths. Number of cormels/plant had the strongest positive correlation with taro yield (r = 0.699**) followed by cormel weight (r = 0.624**). Path-coefficient analysis and stepwise multiple regression analysis revealed cormel weight and number of cormels/plant as the biggest determinants of taro yield, both contributing about 72% of the total variation in yield. This suggests that these two characters are important selection indices for taro yield improvement.