Stability analysis for yield attributing traits and total alkaloid content in ashwagandha (Withania somnifera L.)

Abstract

An experiment to study stability of Ashwagandha genotypes was conducted during Kharif 2018-19 at three different environments. High influence of environment was observed as G x E was significant for all the studied traits. Based upon stability parameters, the genotypes JA-20, UWS-305, UWS-309 and UWS-314 were identified as stable for above average environment, whereas JA-134 was found stable under below average environment for root yield at harvest. UWS-305 showed below average stability for total alkaloid content. Out of the 45 crosses, above average stability was depicted by UWS-305 x UWS-10 and UWS-304 x RVA-100 while below average stability was showed by UWS-309 x RVA-100 for root yield at harvest along with total alkaloid content. Hence, above identified stable genotypes may be beneficial in breeding programme for improvement of root yield and alkaloid content in ashwagandha.

Keywords

• ashwagandha
• g x e interaction
• root yield
• total alkaloid content