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A set of sixteen diverse indigenous genotypes of garlic were studied for the assessment of genetic variability and character association including path coefficient analysis, genetic heritability and genetic advance for twelve yield contributing and economically important traits. A substantial level of genetic diversity was encountered among all the studied genotypes. At both genotypic and phenotypic levels, gross bulb yield was found significantly and positively associated with number of cloves bulb^-1 (r_p = 0.803**, r_g = 0.807), ascorbic acid (r_p = 0.549**, r_g = 0.572) and weight of 10 uniform cloves (r_p = 0.486**, r_g = 0.487). At the genotypic level, the maximum direct and positive effect on bulb yield was exerted by number of cloves bulb^-1 (0.684) followed by ascorbic acid (0.399). The maximum negative direct effect on bulb yield was exerted by sulphur content (-0.329) followed by volume of bulb (-0.215), plant height at 90 days after sowing (-0.064), neck thickness (-0.045), TSS (-0.017) and weight of 10 uniform cloves (-0.001). Thus, the present study indicated that the selection for number of cloves bulb^-1, dry weight of bulb, circumference of bulb and number of leaves plant^-1 should be given emphasizes during the selection in garlic.
Keywords: Genetic variability, Correlation, Path analysis, Garlic.