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Pak. J. Bot., 45(6): 2065-2070, 2013.

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GENETIC VARIATION IN YIELD PERFORMANCE FOR THREE YEARS IN NIGELLA SATIVA L. GERMPLASM AND ITS ASSOCIATION WITH MORPHO-PHYSIOLOGICAL TRAITS AND BIOCHEMICAL COMPOSITION

MUHAMMAD SAJJAD IQBAL^1*, ABDUL GHAFOOR², INAMULLAH¹ AND HABIB AHMAD¹

Abstract: In the present study, thirty two genotypes of Nigella sativa L., germplasm were evaluated for various agriculturally important traits for 3 consecutive years along with biochemical composition. Low variance was recorded in four genotypes viz., Pk-020545, Pk-020561, Pk-020576 and Pk-020646 that indicated stability. Performance of the most of the genotypes was affected by environmental fluctuations that might be attributed to cultural practices or genetic inference. High genetic variability and heritability provide an estimate and opportunity for breeders to select the promising genotypes for specific traits. The association of oil content and fatty acid methyl esters profile (oil extracted with n-hexane) revealed that linoleic acid was significant with yield during first year. Oil content, oleic acid, linoleic acid, monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA), and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) (with n-hexane) were significant during second year. Zn was significantly associated with yield obtained in the third year traits with high significance could be exploited for further hybridization and breeding program is suggested. By employing biotechnological tools in preparation of effective and safe products can be obtained, additionally they could play important role in medicinal plants cultivation, new sources of production of bioactive secondary metabolites and other aspects of medicinal plant biochemistry.

¹Department of Genetics, Hazara University, Mansehra-21300, Pakistan

²Plant Genetic Resources Program, National Agricultural Research Center, Islamabad, Pakistan

^*Corresponding author’s e-mail: sajjadgenomist@yahoo.com