Phenotypic characterization and stability analysis for biomass and essential oil yields of fifteen genotypes of five Ocimum species

Abstract In order to characterize the germplasm of 15 genotypes of 5 Ocimum species collected from different regions of India. Based on significant variations and distinct morphotypes were identified in the germplasm. PCA analysis of 11 quantitative traits revealed that the first three components accounted for 82.51% of the total variance. The leaf length, width and leaf area, primary branches, inflorescence length, oil content and 1000 test seed weight were the most important traits accounting for 46.61% of the total variability in the first PC variable. Hierachical cluster analysis produced two distinct clusters of the Basilicum and the Sanctum group. The Basilicum group contained the genotypes of O. basilicum (OCB-7 to OCB-11), O. americanum (OCA-12) and O. kilimandscharicum (OCK-15). The Sanctum group comprised of O. sanctum (OCS-1 to OCS-6) and O . gratissimum (OCG-13) genotypes . Five genotypes viz. OCB-9, OCB-8, OCB-7, OCB-11 and OC-A12 were identified as high-yielding and stable genotypes.