Evaluation of fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill) genotypes under mid-hill humid sub-temperate conditions

Introduction

Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill) belongs to the family apiaceae and its seeds are used as spice. Fennel is widely cultivated throughout the temperate and subtropical regions. Fennel is used in a wide range of curry powder and curry flavoured soups such as mulligatanny and shorbaz and is often used with fish. Fennel seeds are also used in pickles, chicken casseroles, salad dressings, fish, liver and pork sauces and cucumber, saurkraut lentils and pickled beef. Powdered fennel goes into biscuits, cakes and cooked apple dishes. Fennel is considered as one of the minor spices, since its quantity and value is much smaller compared to other spices.

* CSKHPKV Hill Agri. Res. & Ext.Centre, Dhaulakuan, H.P.173001

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Though many improved varieties of fennel have been released in the country, there is still ample scope for crop improvement by traditional and advanced methods of breeding to increase the adaptability and productivity of the crop.

Material and Methods

The experiment was conducted at the experimental farm of Department of Vegetable Science and Floriculture, CSK Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishvavidyalaya, Palampur during kharif 1997 to 1998. The region falls under Zone-II (mid hills) of the state, characterised by serve winters and mild summers (Verma et. al., 1976). Thirty four diverse fennel genotypes collected from different parts of the country were grown in a randomized block design with three replications (Table 1). The planting was done at a spacing of 45x20 cms. Recommended cultural practices were followed. The observations were recorded on eight economically important traits on five randomly selected plants of each genotype in each replication. The data were subjected to statistical analysis as per the method described by Panse and Sukhatme (1961).

Results and Discussion

Significant differences were observed among the genotypes for all the characters. The genotypes under investigation showed greater variability for plant height, number of primary branches per plant, number of secondary branches per plant, number of umbels per plant, umbel diameter, 100-seed weight, seeds per umbel and seed yield per plant, ranged from 70.59 to 120.96 cm, 1.20 to 5.22, 2.36 to 10.78, 11.64 to 74.47, 7.17 to 18.92 cm, 0.09 to 0.79 g, 71.52 to 237.50 and 5.12 to 46.73 g/plant, respectively. Agnihotri et al. (1997) reported the same trend in fennel. The maximum plant height was recorded in JF-355 (120.96 cm) followed by JF-252 (116.55 cm), EC-279039 (116.44), Guj. Fennel-II (112.50 cm) and JF-423 (112.44 cm), and the minimum was that of JF-422 (70.59 cm). The number of primary branches per plant, number of secondary branches per plant, number of umbels per plant, seeds per umbel and seed yield/plant was maximum in EC-279039 (522, 10.72, 74.47, 18.92cm, 237.50 and 46.73 g, respectively). The 100-seed weight was maximum in EC-386375 (0.79 g) followed by RF-125 (10.75 g), JF-252 (0.68 g), JF-355 (0.64 g) and UF-90 (0.63 g). These collections were at par with each other. Number of primary branches per plant was maximum in EC-279039 (5.22) followed by UF-(M)-1 (3.54) and UF-134 (3.21) and the minimum was recorded in EC-278042 JF-345 (1.20). EC-279039 was significantly superior than others. Number of secondary branches per plant was maximum in EC-279039 (10.78) followed by UF-(M)-1 (7.45), JF-423 (7.20) and UF-134 (6.45), and the minimum was in JF-213 (2.36). EC-279039 was significantly superior than others in respect of number of secondary branches per plant. Number of umbels per plant was maximum in EC-279039 (74/47) followed by JF-345 (48.65) and JF-423 (44.77) and minimum in EC-243376-I (11.74). Maximum umbel diameter was reported in EC-279039 (18.92 cm) followed by JF-286 (12.86 cm) and Guj. Fennel-II (12.09 cm) while it was minimum in JF-295 (7.17 cm). EC-279039 showing promise then rest of the genotypes in respect of umbel diameter. Seeds per umbel was maximum in EC-279039 (237.50) followed by JF-345 (199.35), JF-414 (195.28) and EC-323055 (193.60). Genotype UF-(M)-1 recorded the minimum seeds per umbel (71.52). Exotic genotype EC-279039 (46.73 g) recorded the maximum seed yield per plant followed by JF-252 (30.01 g), EC-279042 (29.81 g) and EC-386375 (28.76 g) while it was minimum in JF-427 (5.12 g).

Mehta and Patel (1983) have also reported wide variation in number of seeds per umbel and number of umbels per plant. From the above observations it can be seen that EC-279039 is dominating all other cultivars in morphological and yield characters. JF-252, EC-279042 and EC-386375, are next higher yielding cultivars.