GENETIC VARIATION OF MORPHOLOGICAL AND YIELD CHARACTERS OF Celosia argentea L. GERMPLASM

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________
*Corresponding author: Email: obbello2002@yahoo.com;
Original Research Article
Journal of Basic and Applied Research
International
13(3): 160-169, 2016
ISSN: 2395-3438 (P), ISSN: 2395-3446 (O)
International Knowledge Press
www.ikpress.org
GENETIC VARIATION OF MORPHOLOGICAL AND YIELD
CHARACTERS OF Celosia argentea L. GERMPLASM
O. J. OLAWUYI1
, B. J. BAMIGBEGBIN1
AND O. B. BELLO2*
1
Department of Botany, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria.
2
Department of Biological Sciences, Fountain University, Osogbo, Nigeria.
AUTHORS’ CONTRIBUTIONS
This work was carried out in collaboration among all authors. Author OJO designed the study, wrote the
protocol and interpreted the data. Author BJB anchored the field study, gathered the initial data and performed
preliminary data analysis, while author OBB the corresponding author managed the literature searches and
produced the initial draft. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.
Received: 22nd
July 2015
Accepted: 20th
August 2015
Published: 15th
October 2015
__________________________________________________________________________________
ABSTRACT
Genetic characterization of morphological and yield traits in ten genotypes of Celosia argentea L. was evaluated
at the Research Farm of the Department of Botany, University of Ibadan, Nigeria. The experiment was laid out
in a randomized complete block design with four replicates. The results of analysis of variance carried out on
early morphological characters of C. argentea L. at 3, 4, and 5weeks after sowing showed significant
(p<0.05/p<0.01) effects except for number of leaves per plant and leaf width at 3 and 5 weeks after sowing,
respectively. The replicates in blocks produced varying observable effects on the genotypes while genotype x
replicate showed significant variation on morpho-agronomic and yield traits except number of days to flowering
at 50 days and fruit length at maturity. Also, from the result of the mean separation, it is shown that
NG/MAY/09/015 performed the best for plant height at flowering, leaf length at flowering, leaf width at
flowering, and root biomass. NG/SA/07/213 produced the highest mean values of number of flowers per plant,
leaf biomass and pod weight at maturity. The highest values of number of primary branches and fruit length at
maturity (FLM) were observed for NG/TO/MAY/09/015, while NG/AO/MAY/09/015 had the highest for pod
weight at maturity. The result of principal component axis also showed that Prin 1 accounted for highest Eigen
Vector of 38.62% from the total variation. NG/MAY/09/015 (R2) genotype produced the highest Eigen Vector
of 6.705 from Prin 1. The correlation result showed that plant height had a significant positive association with
seed weight at maturity, pod weight at maturity, number of primary branches and fruit length at maturity, while
similar association existed between leaf biomass, number of primary branches and pod weight at maturity, as
well as between plant height at flowering and pod weight at maturity. Again, the number of primary branches is
also positive and significantly correlated with plant height, root biomass and leaf length. Furthermore, the
results of dendrogram and minimum spanning tree revealed variations in genetic relatedness and distance,
respectively, which exist among the population of the C. argentea L.
Keywords: Celosia argentea; genetic variation; germplasm; spanning tree.

Olawuyi et al.; JOBARI, 13(3): 160-169, 2016
161
1. INTRODUCTION
Celosia argentea L. also known as Lagos spinach is a
tetraploid species (2n=36), though some varieties
were found to be octaploid [1]. It is an annual edible
broadleaf and well known ornamental crop in
Amaranthaceae family. It has a number of varieties
and related species which include; Digera alternifolia
and D. asches, found in Ethiopia, C. insertii
Townsend, common in Togo, Ghana, Nigeria but
locally called Ajefowo by Yorubas, while C. trigyna
L. and C. cristata L. (cocks comb) are from South
Asia. The leaves, young stem and inflorescences of C.
argentea L. are widely eaten in tropical Africa, Asia
and some parts of Europe as pot herbs, and are one of
the world’s prettiest under-utilized vegetable crops
much cultivated and marketed [2].
Previous studies conducted have shown that an extract
from C. argentea L. used as an alcohol solution is
used to heal burns, and wounds faster [3]. It is used as
a treatment for intestinal worms (particularly
tapeworm), blood diseases, mouth sores, and eyes
problems. The seeds treat chest complaints and
Diabetes mellitus, while the flowers treat diarrhea.
The leaves are used as dressings for boils and sores,
and the boiled vegetables are said to be slightly
diuretic. Celosia has also been used in some parts of
Africa as a potential traditional food plant that
improve nutrition, boost food security, and foster rural
development. This crop has been used as companion
plant to control the growth of parasitic Striga plant
[4]. Knowledge about germplasm diversity and
genetic relationships among breeding materials could
be an invaluable aid in crop improvement strategies
[5]. Despite reported global food insecurity and
hunger, C. argentea L. are underutilized and
neglected. These had led to erosion of genetic base
among these vegetables. In the past, Nigeria
germplasm can boast of well over thirty genotypes of
this crop, but presently only ten are viable and
accessible. Hence, this study is targeted at validating
for germplasm conservation the potentialities of
C. argentea L. through phenotypic characterization,
with a view of identifying genotypes with desirable
traits for improvement program. This study therefore
aimed at evaluating variations in genetic relatedness
and distance which exist among genotypes of
C. argentea L. and sourcing for component based on
high yield in this population.
2. MATERIALS AND METHODS
2.1 Sources of C. argentea L. Genotypes and
Study Location
The Lagos spinach genotypes evaluated in this study
were sourced from National Institute of Horticultural
Research (NIHORT) and National Centre for Genetic
Resources and Biotechnology (NACGRAB) in
Ibadan, Nigeria (Table 1). The experiment was
conducted between 2013 and 2014 at the research
farm of the Department of Botany, University of
Ibadan, Ibadan with latitude 7.4417° N and longitude
3.9000° E located in the rainforest area of
Southwestern Nigeria.
2.2 Experimental Design and Method of
Planting
The genotypes were raised for 2 weeks in the nursery
bags before transplanting to the field, which was flat
and cleared manually and tilled before sowing. The
crop was raised following good agronomic practices
according to standard procedures of FAO. The
seedlings raised in bags were transplanted directly
onto flat ground, arranged in randomized complete
block design (RCBD) with four replications. Four
replications of each genotype were sown along the
row, which formed the experimental plot of 1.0/m
long. Spacing of 0.5/m among rows and 0.25/m
within rows was also carried out.
2.3 Collection and Analysis of Data
Data collection on growth parameters of cultivars
commenced at 2 week after sowing (WAS). This was
done on weekly basis till 9 weeks after sowing. Data
collected on growth and agronomic characters were:
Plant height, length of leaves, width of leaves, number
of days to flowering (at 50/days), number of primary
branches, number of flowers per plant, colour of
flower, plant height at flowering, length of leaves at
flowering, and width of leaves at flowering.
Harvesting was done at the twelfth weeks after
planting on the field. Data on yield characters were;
Leaf biomass (g), fruit length at maturity (cm), pod
weight at harvest (g), seed weight at harvest (g) and
root biomass (g). The quantitative data were generated
using metre rule and weighting balance, while others
were recorded using developed scale. Genstat
Discovery Edition statistical software was used to
analyze the resulting data. All data were subjected to
analysis of variance (ANOVA) and means were
separated using Least Significant Differences (LSD)
according to Duncan multiple range test (P<0.05).
Dendogram was also constructed from cluster
analysis. The data were subsequently subjected to
principal component analysis (PCA), with principal
components >1.0 Eigen-value selected. Also, the
relationships among the quantitative and qualitative
traits were established using Pearson correlation
coefficient.

162
Table 1. Germplasm collection of Celosia argentea L. seeds
Source Number of genotypes Genotypes
National Centre for Genetic Resource and
Biotechnology
9 NHGB/01260, NG/MR/MAY/09/015,
NG/TO/MAY/09/015, NG/SA/07/213,
NG/MA/MAY/09/015, NHGB/09/160,
NG/MAY/09/015, NG/SA/07/213,
NG/AO/MAY/09/015.
National Institute of Horticultural Research 1 NIHORT/0001
3. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
From the results of the morphological traits for ten
genotypes of Celosia argentea L. with respect to the
growth parameters; plant height, leaf length, and leaf
width and number of leaf per plant at various weeks
are shown in Table 2. Some plants started vegetative
growth at 2 weeks after sowing and continue up to 5
weeks after sowing (WAS). The genotypes produced
highly significant (P < 0.01) effect on the plant height
and leaf length, but significant (P < 0.05) for leaf
width at 3 and 4 weeks after sowing (WAS) and
number of leaf per plant at 5WAS. While numbers of
leaves per plant and leaf width were observed to be
non- significant at 3 and 5 WAS, respectively.
3.1 Mean Square Variance of six Morpho-
agronomic and five Yield-related Traits of
C. argentea L
The result of the mean square variance of the morpho-
agronomic traits in C. argentea L. from Table 3
shows that the genotype and genotype x replicate
produced highly significant (P< 0.01) effect on plant
height at flowering, leaf length at flowering, leaf
width at flowering and number of primary branches,
while number of days to flowering at 50 days and
number of flower per plant were not significant. The
general performance of these genotypes with respect
to yield traits is shown in Table 4. Leaf biomass and
seed weight per plant were highly significant (P <
0.01) for genotype and genotype x replicate effects,
while, pod weight per plant and root biomass were
significant (P < 0.05). Fruit length at maturity did not
produce significant effect, similar to number of days
to flowering and number of flowers per plant recorded
in the growth parameter. This result implies that the
genotype x replicates affected significantly the
expression of the traits in the population. It further
suggests variability both among and within the
genotypes studied which is a key factor for crop
improvement.
3.2 Principal Components Analysis (PCA) of
Celosia argentea L. Genotypes and their
Replicates
The result of yield components of C. argental is
presented in Table 5 revealed that the genotypes were
delineated into two principal component axes; Prin 1
and Prin 2. Prin 1 constituted the highest, and
accounted for 38.62% from the total variation, while
Prin 2 was the least with percentage variation of
15.28. NG/MAY/09/015 (R2) genotype from Prin 1
had the highest eigen vector of 6.705, while
NG/MA/MAY/09/015 (R3) was the least (-2.997).
Also, Prin 2 produced the highest Eigen Vector for
NG/TO/MAY/09/015 (R2) at 3.519, while
NHGB/09/160(R2) had the least (-3.122). The Eigen
values showed the contribution of these genotypes to
genetic variation.
3.3 Mean Performance for Morphological and
Yield Traits of Celosia argental
The result of the mean performance for morphological
and yield traits reveals significant (P < 0.05) effect on
Celosia argentea L. genotypes as shown in Table 6.
NG/MAY/09/015 was significantly higher for plant
height at flowering, leaf length at flowering, leaf
width at flowering, and root biomass compared to
other genotypes. Also, the number of flowers per
plant, leaf biomass and seed weight at harvest
produced significant effect from NG/SA/07/213. The
number of primary branches and fruit length at
maturity were significantly higher for
NG/TO/MAY/09/015 but different from other
genotypes. NG/AO/MAY/09/015 is significantly
higher for pod weight at maturity than other
genotypes.

163
Table 2. Morphological traits of ten genotypes of Celosia argentea L. at various growth stages
Genotype 3WAS (cm) 4WAS (cm) 5WAS (cm)
PH LL LW NLP PH LL LW NLP PH LL LW NLP
NHGB/01260 7.47 3.27 1.08 8.00 8.28 5.35 2.20 12.00 20.60 7.75 3.00 12.80
NG/MR/MAY/09/015 7.61 3.70 1.18 9.75 11.78 5.02 1.10 13.50 22.50 5.65 1.48 18.00
NG/TO/MAY/09/015 4.88 1.75 0.98 5.75 6.77 3.32 1.48 6.50 7.10 5.60 2.02 10.80
NG/SA/07/213 5.27 4.42 1.63 7.75 9.80 6.17 2.18 11.25 19.10 9.82 2.75 16.20
NG/MA/MAY/09/015 11.75 4.20 1.35 10.00 13.78 3.60 0.78 11.50 18.10 4.77 1.38 17.20
NHGB/09/160 6.70 4.07 1.78 8.50 9.93 7.90 2.88 12.00 31.60 10.70 3.17 28.80
NIHORT/0001 7.75 4.10 1.75 9.25 12.78 7.07 2.48 10.25 19.90 7.05 2.67 12.50
NG/MAY/09/015 8.10 5.75 1.88 10.75 11.72 9.45 3.78 13.50 34.30 10.67 3.58 21.50
NG/SA/07/213 8.78 3.57 1.31 7.25 13.82 6.12 1.80 11.50 22.40 7.65 2.48 25.20
NG/AO/MAY/09/015 10.57 3.90 1.00 8.75 17.32 5.25 1.35 16.50 23.80 6.87 2.88 20.00
Mean 3.87 7.89 1.39 8.57 11.60 5.93 18.3 2.00 21.9 7.65 2.54 18.3
SE 0.513 0.89 0.22 1.23 1.28 0.82 3.50 0.343 3.69 1.241 0.616 3.50
ANOVA 4.01** 17.99** 0.47* 8.61 ns
37.45** 14.01** 132.21** 3.23* 221.44** 18.05* 2.05 ns
132.21*
* = Significant at 5% level of probability ** = Significant at 1% level of probability SE = Standard error, ns = non significant, PH: plant height, LL: leaf length, LW: leaf width (cm),
NLP: number of leaf per plant, WAS = weeks after sowing

164
Table 3. Mean variance of six morpho-agronomic traits of genotypes of C. argentea L.
Source of
Variation
Df Plant height
at flowering
length of
leaf at
flowering
width of
leaf at
flowering
Number of
days to
flowering
(at 50 days)
Number
of flowers
per plant
Number of
primary
branches
Replicate 3 305.10ns
13.50ns
4.68ns
0.00ns
6.09ns
1.80ns
Genotype 9 1522.50** 47.67** 11.22** 0.71ns
6.75ns
15.56**
Genotype x
replicate
27 208.70** 8.31** 1.31** 0.00ns
3.44ns
0.69**
CV (%) 35.0 31.20 31.70 0.0 107.6 33.2
* = Significant at 5%, ** = significant at 1% level of probability ns = non significant, df = degree of freedom
Table 4. Mean square variance of five yield related traits in ten genotypes of Celosia argentea L.
Source of variation Df Leaf
biomass
Fruit length at
maturity
Pod weight
per plant
Seed weight
per plant
Root biomass
Replicate 3 6905.10ns
28.80ns
8.90ns
0.20ns
2602.40ns
Genotype 9 2569.90** 20.30ns
3.70* 36.90** 1952.70*
Genotype x Replicate 27 435.70** 9.10ns
1.50* 0.70** 677.50*
Total 39
CV (%) 59.10 33.10 51.20 21.00 102.40
* = Significant at 5%, ns = non significant** = significant at 1% level of probability; df = degree of freedom
3.4 Correlation Coefficient among Thirteen
Characters in Genotypes of
Celosia argentea L
The associations of traits in C. argentea L. genotypes
are shown in a correlation matrix (Table 7). The plant
height had a strong significant positive correlation
with seed weight at harvest (p < 0.05; r = 0.94), pod
weight at maturity (r = 0.78), number of primary
branches (r = 0.92), and fruit length at maturity
(r = 0.91) as similarly observed by [6]. This suggests
that selection process based on plant height could
favour seed weight, pod weight at maturity, number of
primary branches, and fruit length at maturity, which
enhanced seed and flower production [7]. Meanwhile,
a strong positive association exists between the root
biomass and the number of primary branches
(r = 0.92), but positively associated with seed weight
at harvest (r = 0.63) and pod weight at harvest (r =
0.60). More so, root biomass, leaf length, and leaf
width had strong positive relationship with number of
primary branches at r = 0.92, r = 0.94, and r = 0.95
respectively [8]. Furthermore, positive association
was recorded between number of leaf per plant and
seed weight at harvest (r = 0.54), whereas positive and
strong association was observed for number of leaf
per plant with pod weight at harvest (r = 0.91) and
fruit length at maturity (r = 0.96). Again, seed weight
at harvest had a strong positive correlation with plant
height at flowering (r = 0.85). These are in accordance
with the findings of [9]. Strong positive correlation
also existed between plant height at flowering and pod
weight at harvest (r = 0.82). Positive correlations were
also observed between pod weight at harvest and leaf
width at flowering (r = 0.52) and leaf biomass (r =
0.77). Also, number of primary branches revealed
strong positive correlation for leaf width at flowering
(r = 0.99), leaf length at flowering (r = 0.99), leaf
biomass (r = 0.87). This implies that selection
procedure based on seed weight will favour number of
primary branches and plant height at flowering, which
will increase yield of the edible portion of the
vegetable in conformity with reports of [6,10].
Finally, strong positive correlation was recorded
between leaf biomass and fruit length at maturity (r =
0.63). This further suggests that any selection based
on the fruit length at maturity will favour the leaf
biomass.
3.5 Minimum Spanning Tree Showing
Genetic Distances among Genotypes of
Celosia argentea L
The genetic distance among the genotypes of
C. argentea L. is presented in Fig. 1. The close and
non-close relatives are revealed by the plots.
NHGB/09/160 (22) and NG/MAY/09/015 (32) are
genetically closer than NG/MAY/09/015 (30) and
NG/SA/07/213 (35). Also, replicates NG/SA/07/213
(15) and NG/SA/07/213 (18) showed genetic
proximity than was observed for replicate
NHGB/01260 (3) and NG/SA/07/213 (34).

165
28
8
17
7
19
6
21
5
23
4
25
3
27
2
29
1
31
32
12 33
11
35
10
37
9
39
18
15
20
13
22
36
24
34
38
14
26
16
30
40
-0.3
0.4
0.0
0.20.1
0.6
-0.2
-0.0-0.1-0.2
0.2
Fig. 1. Minimum spanning tree showing genetic distances among of genotypes of Celosia argentea L.
Generally, the replicates within a genotype such as;
NHGB/01260 (1, 2, 3 and 4), NG/MR/MAY/09/015
(5, 6, 7 and 8), NG/TO/MAY/09/015 (9, 10, 11 and
12) NG/MA/MAY/09/015 (17, 18, 19 and 20), and
NHGB/09/160 (21, 22, 23 and 24) showed close
relationship compared to other genotypes. These are
indications of genetic relatedness among the replicates
of the same and different genotypes.
3.6 Dendrogram Showing the Genetic
Relatedness among Replicates of Celosia
argentea L. Genotypes
The replicates of Celosia argentea genotypes grouped
into three different clusters are shown in Fig. 2. Group
1 is the largest cluster of 20 which comprises;
NHGB/01260 (R1), NHGB/01260 (R3),NIHORT/0001

166
(R2), NIHORT/0001 (R3), NIHORT/0001 (R1),
NHGB/01260 (R2), NHGB/01260 (R4),
NG/SA/07/213 (R1), NHGB/09/160 (R3),
NG/MAY/09/015 (R3),NG/SA/07/213 (R2),
NG/SA/07/213 (R4), NHGB/09/160 (R1),
NHGB/09/160 (R4), NG/MAY/09/015 (R1),
NG/MAY/09/015 (R4), NG/SA/07/213
(R4),NHGB/09/160 (R2), NG/MAY/09/015(R2), and
NG/SA/07/213 (R3), followed by cluster group 2
comprising of ; NG/MR/MAY/09/015 (R1),
NG/MR/MAY/09/015 (R2), NG/MA/MAY/09/015
(R2), NG/MR/MAY/09/015 (R3), NG/SA/07/213 (R3),
NG/MA/MAY/09/015 (R1), NG/MA/MAY/09/015
(R3), NG/MR/MAY/09/015 (R4),
NG/MA/MAY/09/015 (R4), NIHORT/0001 (R4),
NG/TO/MAY/09/015 (R1), and NG/SA/07/213 (R1),
while NG/TO/MAY/09/015 (R2),
NG/TO/MAY/09/015 (R3), NG/TO/MAY/09/015
(R4), NG/SA/07/213 (R2), NG/AO/MAY/09/015 (R3),
NG/AO/MAY/09/015 (R1), NG/AO/MAY/09/015
(R2) and NG/AO/MAY/09/015 (R4) belong to the
least cluster group 3.
Table 5. Principal components analysis (PCA) of Celosia argental genotypes and their replicates
Genotype (Rep) Prin. 1 Prin. 2
NHGB/01260(R1) 0.300 0.559
NHGB/01260(R2) 1.063 0.045
NHGB/01260(R3) -0.289 0.726
NHGB/01260(R4) 0.129 1.696
NG/MR/MAY/09/015(R1) -2.387 -2.127
NG/MR/MAY/09/015(R2) -0.972 -1.651
NG/MR/MAY/09/015(R3) -2.606 -0.805
NG/MR/MAY/09/015(R4) -1.513 0.669
NG/TO/MAY/09/015 (R1) -2.122 -0.360
NG/TO/MAY/09/015 (R2) -0.883 3.519
NG/TO/MAY/09/015 (R3) -2.713 1.071
NG/TO/MAY/09/015 (R4) -2.264 2.296
NG/SA/07/213 (R1) 0.767 -0.432
NG/SA/07/213 (R2) 1.711 2.038
NG/SA/07/213 (R3) -2.225 -0.110
NG/SA/07/213 (R4) 2.385 1.495
NG/MA/MAY/09/015(R1) -2.653 -1.185
NG/MA/MAY/09/015(R2) -1.732 -2.210
NG/MA/MAY/09/015(R3) -2.997 -1.845
NG/MA/MAY/09/015(R4) -2.030 0.164
NHGB/09/160(R1) 0.982 0.119
NHGB/09/160(R2) 3.474 -3.122
NHGB/09/160(R3) 1.302 -1.379
NHGB/09/160(R4) 2.140 -0.635
NIHORT/0001(R1) 1.357 1.118
NIHORT/0001(R2) 0.142 1.270
NIHORT/0001(R3) -0.454 -0.152
NIHORT/0001(R4) -1.876 1.513
NG/MAY/09/015 (R1) 3.992 0.502
NG/MAY/09/015 (R2) 6.705 -1.434
NG/MAY/09/015 (R3) 1.982 0.232
NG/MAY/09/015 (R4) 2.031 0.665
NG/SA/07/213(R1) -1.673 -1.997
NG/SA/07/213(R2) -0.008 1.398
NG/SA/07/213(R3) 3.814 -0.931
NG/SA/07/213(R4) 1.495 0.480
NG/AO/MAY/09/015(R1) -2.905 -1.435
NG/AO/MAY/09/015(R2) -0.462 -0.660
NG/AO/MAY/09/015(R3) -1.248 0.745
NG/AO/MAY/09/015(R4) 0.242 0.149
Percentage variation (%) 38.62 15.28

167
Fig. 2. Dendrogram showing genetic relatedness among 40 replicates of ten genotypes of
Celosia argentea L
Table 6. Mean performance for morphological and yield traits of Celosia argentea L
Genotypes PHF LLF LWF NPB NFP LB FLM PWM SWH RB
NHGB/01260 34.15cd
11.00abc
5.05ab
0.00d
0.00b
30.25bc
6.96b
3.01abc
4.03c
19.41b
NG/MR/MAY/09/015 31.20cd
5.65de
1.45d
4.00b
1.50ab
14.55c
7.53b
2.64abcd
1.64e
3.71b
NG/TO/MAY/09/015 20.35d
7.90cde
3.58bc
5.50a
0.00b
27.57bc
13.39a
2.94abc
7.26b
12.76b
NG/SA/07/213 39.45cd
9.60bcd
1.45d
2.00c
1.00b
60.13ab
11.05ab
3.14ab
1.35e
36.34b
NG/MA/MAY/09/015 16.95d
4.00e
1.00d
3.00bc
2.00ab
12.70c
6.66b
1.01cd
1.61e
20.53b
NHGB/09/160 68.12ab
12.93ab
4.20b
4.00b
2.25ab
30.25bc
7.86b
2.11abcd
1.24e
28.25b
NIHORT/0001 45.02c
8.83bcd
3.33bc
0.00d
2.50ab
27.57bc
11.04ab
3.08ab
3.34cd
8.40b
NG/MAY/09/015 76.52a
14.83a
6.28a
0.00d
1.75ab
72.56a
10.29ab
1.34bcd
2.46de
78.75a
NG/SA/07/213 52.12bc
11.78abc
4.73ab
2.50c
4.50a
75.24a
9.33ab
0.90d
9.16a
32.21b
NG/AO/MAY/09/015 29.22cd
6.00de
2.13cd
4.00b
1.75ab
2.57c
7.19b
3.51a
8.11ab
21.30b
Means with the same letter in the same column are not significantly different P ≥ 0.05 according to
Pearson’s Duncan multiple range test
PHF: Plant Height at Flowering (cm), LLF: leaf length at flowering (cm), LWF: Leaf width at flowering (cm), NPB: number of
primary branches, NFP: number of flower per plant, LB: leaf biomass (g), FLM: fruit length at maturity (cm), PWM: pod weight at
maturity (g), SWH: seed weight at harvest (g), RB: root biomass (g)

168
Table 7. Correlation coefficient among thirteen characters in genotypes of Celosia argentea L
PH RB LL LW NLP SW PHF PWM NPB LWF LLF LB
FLM
RB 0.00ns
LL 0.00ns
0.00ns
LW 0.00ns
0.00ns
0.00ns
NLP 0.00ns
0.01ns
0.01ns
0.00ns
SW 0.94** 0.63* 0.90** 0.46ns
0.54*
PHF 0.00ns
0.00ns
0.00ns
0.00ns
0.00ns
0.85**
PWM 0.78** 0.60* 0.15ns
0.07ns
0.91** 0.42ns
0.82**
NPB 0.90** 0.92** 0.94** 0.95** 0.12ns
0.07ns
0.96ns
0.33ns
LWF 0.02ns
0.00ns
0.00ns
0.00ns
0.20ns
0.37ns
0.0ns
0.52* 1.00**
LLF 0.00ns
0.00ns
0.00ns
0.00ns
0.03ns
0.57ns
0.00ns
0.39ns
0.99** 0.00ns
LB 0.22ns
0.36ns
0.01ns
0.29ns
0.28ns
0.40ns
0.02ns
0.77** 0.87** 0.11ns
0.03ns
FLM 0.91** 0.14ns
0.24ns
0.15ns
0.96** 0.23ns
0.17ns
0.02ns
0.64* 0.01ns
0.01ns
0.63*
ns = non significant, * = Significant at 5%, **= significant at 1% level of probability
PH: Plant height, RB: Root biomass, LL: Leaf length, LW: Leaf width (cm), NLP: Number of leaf per plant, SWH: Seed weight at
Harvest, PHF: Plant Height at Flowering, PWM: Pod weight at maturity, NPB: Number of primary branches, LWF: Leaf width at
flowering, LLF: Leaf length at flowering, LB: Leaf biomass, FLM: Fruit length at maturity.
4. CONCLUSION
Research and farming activities have denied Nigeria
germplasm of leafy vegetables, therefore leading to
loss of useful plant materials and genetic erosion of
leafy crop. The selection of potential diverse
genotypes from all collections will facilitate the
enhanced utilization of germplasm in breeding
programs, thereby ensuring the sustainability and
conservation of germplasm collections. This study
revealed that plant height, number of branches, seed
weight per plant, fruit length at maturity, and leaf
biomass yield per plant could be selected for
improvement as they exhibited high linear
relationships. There are variability in morphological
and yield components in this study. The performances
of NG/MAY/09/015, NG/SA/07/213, NG/AO/MAY/
09/015 and NG/TO/MAY/09/015 for all the
quantitative and qualitative traits suggested that these
genotypes could be promising for future breeding
program of the crop. Therefore, the pathogenic
variability of pests and diseases that could likely
interact with these genotypes could be further
explored to broaden the scope of the study. Further
studies on molecular markers will provide more
information on genetic diversity based on
geographical classifications with respect to
morphological and yield traits. This will ensure
germplasm conservation and development of
strategies in improvement of Celosia argental L.
COMPETING INTERESTS
Authors have declared that no competing interests
exist.
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