Performance and Genetic Evaluation of Some Cauliflower Genotypes in Dry Temperate Ladakh Region of India

Nature has endowed India with many precious gifts, wherein lies its immense potential for the vegetable sector. In dry temperate region of India like Ladakh, cauliflower is grown during summer months. Extreme environmental fluctutaions make the cauliflower cultivation not an easy venture. Cauliflower is thermo-sensitive crop and identification of proper group as well genotype for cultivation in a particular climate and region is of utmost importance. Six genotypes were tried in Randomized Block Design with 4 replications with crop geometry of 45 x 45 cm with the objective to select the proper maturity group and genotype for cultivation in dry temperate Ladakh condition and to study the genetic parameters for further breeding procedures. Results indicated that there are significant differences among all the cultivars for all the characters except stalk length, number of leaves for plant and leaf length. Sweta recorded highest gross plant weight, net curd weight and yield per ha which is superior to all the others cultivars. GCV and PCV as well heritability with genetic advance expressed as percentage of mean were higher in gross plant weight, net curd weight and yield per hectare. Selection on phenotypic performance could be effective for improvement of these traits.