Quantitative Traits Diversity in Anchote (<i>Coccinia abyssinica</i> (Lam.) Cogn.)) Accessions from Ethiopia

Abstract

Anchote (Coccinia abyssinica (Lam.) Cogn.) is an indigenous root crop that used as food and nutritional security and socioeconomically important  crop in Ethiopia.Although, the crop has a greate potential, lower attention was given by the research and development programe in the country.  Eventhough very few studies have been done regarding the genetic diversity of anchote on a few numbers of accessions, the present study included  more accessions from vast production areas of the crop. The present study was conducted to assess the genetic diversity within and  among 400 accessions of anchote from Ethiopia using quantitative traits. The field trials were laid out in randomized triple lattice design with three  replications. Data on 22 quantitative traits were collected and subjected to analysis of variance and multivariate analysis. Results of the analysis of  variance indicated except number of locules per fruit and 6 locules per fruit, all traits showed significant variation (p<0.01) among the accessions.  Wide ranges have been exhibited among the accessions for all root traits; root number per plant (1-13), root weight per plant (0.02-3.52 kg), total  root yield (1.67-293.33 t/ha), root length (6.4-30.08 cm), root width (6.09-33.16 cm) and root dry weight (12.9-55g/100g). Similarly, fruit and seed  traits also exhibited wide ranges. Highest positive and significant correlation was resulted between root traits; total root yield (r=0.37**, root  diameter(r=0.34**). Root yield was negatively correlated with seed yield(-0.001) but fruit length was positively correlated with all root traits. The  cluster analysis showed the existence of five divergent groups in which they were diverse and varied irrespective of their collection areas. The  results of principal component analysis (PCA) indicated that the accessions were grouped into seven components based the evaluated traits,  significant (eigen value > 1) and explained 55.08 % of the total variability. The variation exhibited in this experiment could be attributed to  environmental and genetic factors. The variability exhibited among anchote germplasm of Ethiopia will be an excellent approach in the screening  and selection of promising and contrasting genotypes of anchote in future works.