Genetic Variability and Character Association Studies in Anola (Phyllanthus emblica L.), Germplasm from South Western Punjab

Aonla (Phyllanthus emblica L.), holds significant medicinal and nutritional benefits. The present investigation was carried out at Punjab Agricultural University, Regional Research Station, during 2019-20 to assess the genetic variability of 30 accessions of Phyllanthus emblica L. The results showed a wide range of diversity among the germplasm. Mean sum of squares owing to genotypes (GCV) was highly significant for all of the characters under study. The phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) for all traits was greater than the genotypic coefficient of variation, indicating the presence of environmental factors that can have impact on the the phenotypic expression of some traits. The high estimates of PCV and GCV were for fruit weight and plant girth and the lowest estimates of PCV and GCV were observed for pH and genetic advance as percent of mean was observed for fruit yield, stone weight, and plant girth. The significant positive correlation between fruit yield was with fruit breadth, fruit diameter, and fruit weight Smilarly, the fruit weight exhibited a significant correlation with fruit breadth and diameter. The path correlation analysis indicated that girth has the greatest positive direct effect on yield per plant, followed by fruit length, stone weight, and pH. The PCA showed a considerable amount of the total variability, accounting for 80.15% of the cumulative variance contribution rate across the first 5 PCs identified. The PC was highly contributed by positive loading with fruit characters viz. fruit weight, fruit breadth, fruit diameter, fruit yield, plant girth, fruit length, plant height, TSS, pH indicating that these characters should be considered as selection criteria for increasing fruit yields in breeding programs.