Inheritance pattern and association study of agronomical traits in 47 elite accessions/genotypes of Opium poppy (Papaver somniferum L.)

Opium poppy(Papaver  somniferum L.), a member of family Papaveraceae is an important source of several benzylisoquinoline derived alkaloids known to the human race since the ancient civilizations for their therapeutic and narcotic values. In the present study a total number of 47 accessions/genotypes of Opium poppywere procured from various resources and screened for economic yield, variability, heritability, correlation and path coefficient. Among them G-18 was identified as highest seed yielding 10.45 g/plant, G-3 & G-6 (0.092%, 0.086%) as high morphine containing accessions. Maximum Genotypic Coefficient of Variance (GCV) recorded for papaverine content. The estimate of heritability in the broad sense was recorded higher side for morphine content (99.96%) and papaverine (99.85 %) while lower for days to 50% flowering (4.22%). The genotypic and phenotypic correlation coefficient amongst codeine and thebaine content were found highly significant and positively associated with morphine content followed by narcotine content. The path coefficient analysis revealed that the highest direct contribution to seed yield was made by capsule straw yield (0.8730) followed by days to maturity (0.3758).