Estimation of Variability Components among Garlic (Allium sativum L.) Germplasm at Kulumsa South Eastern Part of Ethiopia

Garlic (Allium sativum L.) is the most widely cultivated bulb crop after onion had major place in spices and medicinal use and grown in diverse areas, grown in sunny and dry areas in a moderately humid and dry environment. In Ethiopia, garlic is the most extensively farmed crop, and it is an essential cash crop for small land holder farmers since its unit price is substantially greater than most other vegetables produced. However, environmental factors affect the genetic potential and the quality of garlic crops. Thus, the aim current study was to estimate components of variation among one hundred twenty (120) garlic genotypes/accessions. The experiment was executed by alpha lattice design with two replications at Kulumsa Agricultural Research Center is found in Arsi, Zone Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia, is located 175km South East of Addis Ababa on the road from Adama to Asella. The result of study revealed that there was a significant genetic variation among garlic materials. During 2020 cropping season the highest genotypic coefficient of variation and phenotypic coefficients of variation 37.48% and 47.70% were observed respectively for weight of cloves and total yield tha-1and moderately high heritability along with high genetic advance as percent of the mean were exhibited by shaft/pseodostem length. During 2021 cropping season the highest genotypic coefficient of variation and phenotypic coefficients of variation 29.10% and 41.73% were observed respectively for weight clove and total yield tha-1 and moderately high heritability along with high genetic advance as percent of the mean were exhibited by shaft length. Generally, the present study indicated that the presence of the genetic variability between germplasms to exploit the genetic improvement of the garlic crop through hybridization and simple selection methods.