European Journal of Biotechnology and Bioscience

Authors
TR Barathkumar

Abstract
Thuthuvalai (Solanum trilobatum L.) is an important medicinal plant in Indian system of medicines. The leaves are having several alkaloids. These alkaloids have been identified and used in large scale by pharmaceutical industries for formulating new drugs against many diseases and illness of human beings. In order to exploit this medicinal herb for commercial cultivation, the present investigation was carried out to study the genetic variability for growth, herbage yield and alkaloid content of Thuthuvalai (Solanum trilobatum L.). Thirty ecotypes were collected from all the agro climatic regions of Tamil Nadu and studied for mean performance, genetic variability, heritability, and genetic advance for growth, herbage yield, and alkaloid content of Thuthuvalai. The study revealed that The ecotype ST₇ (Vangal) performed well for better growth, herbage yield and alkaloid content in leaf. High GCV, PCV, habitability and genetic advance were recorded for most of the growth parameters, herbage yield and alkaloid content in Thuthuvalai.