Relationship of opium yield with yield contributing traits in segregating populations derived through biparental mating in opium poppy (Papaver somniferum L.)

Abstract The present research work was undertaken to discern the character associations and the direct as well as indirect effect of component traits on opium yield in biparental inbreeding populations (BIPs) derived from four segregating base populations of the crosses NB-1Kr40-3/3×NB-1Kr30 + 0.2–2/1, NB-5Kr40-7/2 × 58/1, NB-1Kr30 + 0.2–2/1 × 58/1, and NB-1Kr40-3/3×NB-5Kr40-7/2 through North Carolina Design-I (NCD-I). Ample amount of inherent genetic association among the traits was witnessed as the magnitudes of genotypic correlations ( rg ) were larger than phenotypic correlations ( rp ) in BIPs developed from all the four populations. Opium yield showed negative correlation with morphine content in all the BIPs derived from four different base populations. It was concluded that selection based on branches/plant, leaves/plant, stem diameter, capsule size, capsule weight/plant, seed yield/plant, and husk yield/plant or concurrent selection for more than one trait may augment the opium yield in opium poppy.