Research Article

An Assessment of Genetic Variability in Contrasting Castor Seedlings

G. I. Ilo
University of Nigeria, Nigeria
I. A. Nweke
Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Nigeria
* Corresponding author
S. I. Ijearu
Akanu Ibiam Federal Polytechnic, Nigeria
DOI icon 10.24018/ejfood.2020.2.6.193

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Submitted 2020-12-02
Published 2020-12-19

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Article Main Content

Nine genotypes of castor oil bean (Ricinus cumunis) were evaluated in 2011 and 2012 cropping seasons to determine their consistency of performance at the Enugu State University of Science and Technology, Enugu State. Eight (8) accessions were selected from various locations in the south east, while a standard check was obtained from Ahmadu Bello University Zaria. The study was carried out using a randomized complete block design with four replications. Data was collected on number of days to germination, days to 50% flowering, plant height at maturity, length of primary raceme, length of pistillate region, length of staminate region and number of leaves. The findings from the study showed that Zaria accession flowers within 80 days and significantly (P < 0.05) different from the other eight (8) accessions studied, except Udi for plant height at maturity the significant and comparable large genotypes for all the characters except number of days to germination; number of nodes and length of staminate region implies that there would be adequate gains in selecting the characters. The phenotypic coefficient of variation was found to be higher than the genotypic coefficient of variance for all the character studied indicating the influence of environment towards the total variance. The short height recorded in Zaria and Udi accessions which are at par is of a desirable trait for shorter plants are easier to manage agronomical and it also withstands lodging better than all plants. These accessions based on the agronomic characters studied were found to perform very well in Enugu south-east, Nigeria and is therefore, recommended to be grown in this region.

Keywords: Accessions, heritability, genetic variability, pistillate, staminate, raceme

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