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Genetic association among root morphology, root quality and root yield in ashwagandha (Withania somnifera)

Kumar Ramesh R. (CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CIMAP) - Research Centre, Allalasandra, Karnataka, India)
Reddy Anjaneya Prasanna L. (CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CIMAP) - Research Centre, Boduppal, Uppal (PO), Andhra Pradesh, India)
Subbaiah Chinna J. (J.J. College of Arts and Science, Pudukkottai, Tamil Nadu, India)
Kumar Niranjana A. (CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CIMAP) - Research Centre, Boduppal, Uppal (PO), Andhra Pradesh, India)
Prasad Nagendra H.N. (CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CIMAP) - Research Centre, Allalasandra, Karnataka, India)
Bhukya Balakishan (CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CIMAP) - Research Centre, Allalasandra, Karnataka, India)

Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) is a dryland medicinal crop and roots are used as valuable drug in traditional systems of medicine. Morphological variants (morphotypes) and the parental populations were evaluated for root - morphometric, quality and yield traits to study genetic association among them. Root morphometric traits (root length, root diameter, number of secondary roots/ plant) and crude fiber content exhibited strong association among them and showed significant positive genotypic correlation with yield. Starch-fiber ratio (SFR), determinant of brittle root texture showed strong negative association with root yield. The total alkaloid content had positive genotypic correlation with root yield. So genetic upgradation should aim at optimum balance between two divergent groups of traits i.e. root yield traits (root morphometric traits and crude fiber content) and root textural quality traits (starch content and SFR) to develop superior genotypes with better yield and quality.