EXPLORING GENETIC VARIABILITY FOR ROOT YIELD AND ITS COMPONENT TRAITS IN ASHWAGANDHA (WITHANIA SOMNIFERA L. DUNAL)

The study titled "Exploring Genetic Variability for Root Yield and Its Component Traits in Ashwagandha [Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal]" evaluated 74 genotypes alongside three standard checks in late kharif 2019-20 at the Instructional Farm of Rajasthan College of Agriculture, Maharana Pratap University of Agriculture and Technology, Udaipur, Rajasthan.Observations were recorded for eleven characters, including days to 50 percent flowering, plant height, number of primary and secondary branches, leaf area index, root length, root diameter, fresh and dry root yield, fresh and dry plant weight, 100 seed weight, harvest index, and alkaloid content.High genetic variability was observed in secondary branches, harvest index, and dry root yield, while low variability was seen in days to 75% maturity reveals significant potential for crop improvement.Substantial variability among genotypes underscores diverse genetic backgrounds, offering opportunities for selective breeding.High heritability was noted in secondary branches, fresh plant weight, and days to 50% flowering.Fresh plant weight exhibited high heritability and genetic advance, indicating its potential for improvement through selection.Overall, the study highlights significant genetic variability and potential for improvement in Ashwagandha traits, guiding future breeding efforts for enhanced crop performance and quality.