Correlation Studies for Bulb Yield and Yield Contributing Traits among Onion (Allium cepa L.) Genotypes

Thirty-seven Onion (Allium cepa L.) genotypes comprising of twelve parents (12) and twenty-five hybrids were evaluated at the Fadama Teaching and Research farm of the Department of Crop Science, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto during the 2015/2016 dry season. The objective of the study is to determine the correlation of characters among the 37 genotypes. The treatments were laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. After harvesting, the genotypes were stored for five months using farmers practice. The analysis of the results indicated highly significant (P<0.001) positive correlation between plant height and leaf area (1), plant height and leaf area index (0.84676), plant height and number of leaves (0.46727) plant height and percentage loss (0.43356) leaf area and leaf area index (0.85459), leaf area and cured bulb weight (0.47029), leaf area and percentage loss (0.50254) number of leaves and cured bulb weight (0.51363), number of leaves and percentage loss (0.43259), bulb diameter and bulb length (0.36367), bulb diameter and percentage loss (0.68209). Results obtained indicated highly significant (<0.001) negative correlation between leaf area index and days to maturity (-0.29333), leaf area index and number of leaves (- 0.29333), number of leaves and bulb diameter (- 0.02255), and between days to maturity and percentage loss (- 0.86679). Results obtained also revealed significant (<0.05) negative correlation between number of leaves and percentage bolting (- 0.26466) number of leaves and average bulb weight (- 0.26466) number of leaves and days to maturity (- 0.24959) days to maturity and average bulb weight (0.02255) cured bulb weight and days to maturity (-0.24001). The results of the study, therefore, conclude that Onion genotypes with longer maturity are best for storage.