AN EVALUATION OF KEY NUTRITIONAL COMPONENTS OF VEGETABLE MESTA (HIBISCUS CANNABINUS L.): A STUDY ON VARIABILITY AND BIOCHEMICAL PROFILE

An investigation was conducted on the genetic variability of 24 locally collected accessions of mesta (Hibiscus cannabinus L.) for several biochemical traits during summer season (2024).The experiment was laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design with two replications.The analysis of mesta leaves for several key nutrients was done in an order to develop its nutrient profile.A solid and wider range of variation among studied accessions was revealed by analysis of variance (ANOVA).Based on the per se performance, it was noticed that different genotypes had performed well in terms of different biochemical parameters.Substantial level of coefficient of variation at genotypic (GCV) and phenotypic (PCV) level was noted for all of the biochemical characters except ash and antioxidants, which had recorded medium level of GCV and PCV values.This signifies the true expression of traits with less or no influence of environment.The traits, total phenol content and calcium can easily transferred from parents to progeny because of their high heritability values.Additive gene action had its complete control on titratable acidity, fat content and crude fibre of mesta leaves, which can be fixed through appropriate breeding technique.Thus, our investigation had unpacked the nutritive potentiality of mesta crop.However, this basic information can be utilized to develop a mesta cultivar with a strong nutrient profile and can be harnessed at economical level.